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JOHN  HENRY  NASH  LIBRARY 

<8>  SAN  FRANCISCO 

PRESENTED  TO  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


ROBERT  GORDON  SPRQUL,  PRESIDENT. 

BY" 

MR.ANDMRS.MILTON  S.  RAY- 
CECILY,  VIRGINIA  ANDROSALYN  RAY 


RAY  OIL  BURNEROOMPANY 


Splendid 

"HYDRIOTAPHIA" 

LOVERS  of  the  rare  quality  of  the  work  of  Sir 
Thomas  Browne  are  under  the  greatest  obliga- 
tion to  Messrs.  Houghton,  Mifflin  &  Co.,  for  the 
splendid  edition  of  "  Hydriotaphia  or  Urne- 
Buriall ' '  which  they  have  issued.  This  essay  is 
one  of  Browne's  most  characteristic  and  delight- 
ful ones.  One  need  only  remark  that  it  contains 
such  passages  as  those  beginning  "The  iniquity 
of  oblivion  blindly  scattereth  her  poppy ;"  "What 
song  the  Syrens  sang  or  what  name  Achilles  as- 
sumed when  he  hid  himself  among  women;" 
and  "  Man  is  a  noble  animal,  splendid  in  ashes. ' ' 
The  new  edition  is  a  small  quarto  of  sixty  pages, 
on  unbleached,  handmade  paper,  with  reference 
notes  in  the  broad  margins,  as  in  the  original  edi- 
tion—  which,  in  many  respects,  this  one  resem- 
bles. The  title-page  has  a  border  engraved  on 
wood  by  M.  Lament  Brown,  and  the  binding  is 
sumptuous  crimson  leather  stamped  in  gold.  The 
edition  consists  of  385  numbered  copies. 

" TIMES,"  N.Y. 

January  25,  1908. 

RIVERSIDE   PRESS   EDITION.    No.  42 

Price,  $7.50  net;  postpaid 
Published  by  HOUGHTON,  MIFFLIN  &  Co. 


4  Park  St. , 
Boston 


85  Fifth  Ave., 
New  York 


OR 


A  Dtfcourfe  of  the  Sejiulchrall  Urnes 
lately  found  in  Norfolk 

By  SIR  THOMAS  BROWNE,  D.  of  Phyfick 


CAMBRIDGE 


THE  RIVERSIDE  PRESS  EDITION 


Urne-Buriall 


SIR  THOMAS  BROWNE'S  Hydriotaphia,  or  Urne- 
Buriall,  is  now  offered  to  lovers  of  choice  books  in  a 
'Riverside  ^Press  Edition  of  especial  appropriateness 
and  beauty. 

Though  perhaps  less  well  known  than  his  ^eligio  (^fedici, 
Browne's  Urne-Buriall  has  long  been  regarded  by  the  best 
critics  as  his  finest  and  most  individual  work  and  the  one 
most  sure  to  hold  its  place  among  the  enduring  masterpieces 
of  classic  English  prose.  "That  wonderful  book,"  Walter 
Pater  called  it;  and  it  drew  from  Charles  Lamb  this  charac- 
teristic appreciation : 

"I  wonder  and  admire  his  entireness  in  every  subject  jhat 
is  before  him.  He  follows  it,  he  never  wanders  from  it,  and 
he  has  no  occasion  to  wander;  for  whatever  happens  to  be 
the  subject,  he  metamorphoses  all  nature  into  it.  In  the 
treatise  on  some  urns  dug  up  in  Norfolk,  how  earthy,  how 
redolent  of  graves  and  sepulchres  is  every  line !  You  have 
now  dark  mould,  now  a  thigh-bone,  now  a  skull,  then  a  bit 
of  mouldered  coffin,  a  fragment  of  an  old  tombstone  with 
moss  in  its  'Hie  Jacet,5  a  ghost,  or  a  winding-sheet,  or  the 
echo  of  a  funeral  psalm  wafted  on  a  November  wind ;  and 
the  gayest  thing  you  shall  meet  with  shall  be  a  silver  nail 
or  a  gilt  <  Anno  Domini/  from  a  perished  coffin-top." 


Urne-Buriall  3 


The  text  of  the  rare  first  edition  will  be  reproduced  with 
a  few  deviations  in  the  direction  of  a  uniformity  of  spelling 
and  punctuation,  thus  correcting  a  number  of  errors  which 
have  crept  into  later  issues. 

The  format  has  been  subtly  contrived  to  suggest  at  once 
the  look  of  its  XVIIth  Century  original  and  something  of 
the  peculiar  flavor  of  its  contents.  In  size  the  volume  is  a 
small  quarto  of  about  sixty  pages,  set  in  Brimmer  type  with 
reference  notes  in  the  margins,  as  in  the  original  edition.  It 
is  printed  on  unbleached,  hand-made  paper  with  the  usual 
care  given  to  the  press- work  of  the  Riverside  Press  Editions. 
The  title  is  within  a  border  engraved  on  wood  by  M.  La- 
mont  Brown,  after  a  beautiful  and  interesting  old  English 
design.  It  is  emblematic  of  the  subject  and  contains  the 
Author's  arms. 

In  binding  a  departure  has  been  made  from  the  Publish- 
ers' custom  of  issuing  these  books  in  unpretentious  covers. 
In  this  instance  an  attractive  crimson  leather  has  been  se- 
lected to  carry  a  reproduction  of  a  beautiful  and  elaborate 
English  binding  of  the  early  XlXth  Century,  appropriate 
in  its  details  to  the  contents  of  the  volume.  Stamped  in  gold 
on  both  covers,  the  effect  is  remarkably  rich  and  pleasing. 

The  edition  consists  of  three  hundred  and  eighty-five 
numbered  copies,  of  which  three  hundred  and  fifty  are 
offered  for  sale,  the  price  being  $7.50  net  a  copy ;  prepaid. 
A  sample  page  of  the  text  is  shown  herewith. 

HOUGHTON,  MlFFLIN  AND  COMPANY. 

85  Fifth  Avenue,  New  York. 


H-  "I 
r.3 


*/»  the  Psalme  of 
Moses. 


•\Accor  ding  to  the 
ancient  Arithmetick 
of  the  hand  wherein 
the  little  finger  of 
the  right  hand 
contracted,  signified 
an  hundred. 

Pierus  in 
Hieroglyph. 


J  One  night  as  long  as 
three. 


uzzling  ques- 
tions of  Tiberius  unto 
Grammarians  Marcel. 
Donatus  in  Suet. 

||KXvra  Wvta 


Hydriotaphia 


composition  ;  we  live  with  death,  and  die  not  in  a  moment. 
How  many  pulses  made  up  the  life  of  <>JMethuselah,  were 
work  for  (^Archimedes  :  Common  Counters  sum  up  the  life 
his  name.*  Our  dayes  become  considerable  like 


o 


petty  sums  by  minute  accumulations  ;  where  numerous  frac- 
tions make  up  but  small  round  numbers  ;  and  our  dayes  of 
a  span  long  make  not  one  little  finger.-f 

If  the  nearnesse  of  our  last  necessity,  brought  a  nearer 
conformity  unto  ,it,  there  were  a  happinesse  in  hoary  hairs, 
and  no  calamity  in  half  senses.  But  the  long  habit  of  living 
indisposeth  us  for  dying,  when  Avarice  makes  us  the  sport 
of  death,  when  'David  grew  politickly  cruel,  and  Solomon 
could  hardly  be  said  to  be  the  wisest  of  men.  But  many  are 
too  early  old,  and  before  the  date  of  age.  Adversity  stretch- 
eth  our  dayes,  misery  makes  ^Alcmena's  nights,  J  and  time 
hath  no  wings  unto  it.  But  the  most  tedious  being  is  that 
which  can  unwish  it  self,  content  to  be  nothing,  or  never 
to  have  been,  which  was  beyond  the  mal-content  of  Job, 
who  cursed  not  the  day  of  his  life,  but  his  nativity,  content 
to  have  so  far  been,  as  to  have  a  title  to  future  being, 
although  he  had  lived  here  but  in  an  hidden  state  of  life, 
and  as  it  were  an  abortion. 

What  Song  the  Syrens  sang,  or  what  name  Achilles  as- 
sumed when  he  hid  himself  among  women,  though  puzzling 
questions,  §  are  not  beyond  all  conjecture.  What  time  the 
persons  of  these  Ossuaries  entered  the  famous  Nations  of 
the  dead,  1  1  and  slept  with  Princes  and  Counsellors,  might 
admit  a  wide  solution.  But  who  were  the  proprietaries  of 


HYDRIOTAPHIA 

OR 

URNE-BURIALL 


HYDRIOTAPHIA 


Burtall 


mrne 


cour 
Sepulchrall  Urnes 


lately  found 


Norfolk 


THOMAS  BROWNE 
yf  Thyjick 


NOTE       / 

This  edition  of  the  Hydriotaphia  repro- 
duces the  text  ofthejirst  edition  printed  in 
1658.  Several  errors  which  have  crept  into 
later  issues  have  thus  been  rectified.  The 
archaic  spelling  ofthejirst  edition  has  been 
retained  savejbr  a  Jew  deviations  toward 
uniformity.  The  erratic  punctuation  of 
the  original  issue  has  been  slightly  modi- 
Jied,  though  due  regard  has  been  paid  to 
Browne9 s  peculiar  use  of  the  semicolon. 


TO  MY 

Worthy  and  Honoured  Friend 

THOMAS    LE 

of  CROSTWICK,  Esquire 


WHEN  the  Funeral  pyre  was  out,  and  the  last 
valediction  over,  men  took  a  lasting  adieu  of  their 
interred  Friends,  little  expecting  the  curiosity  of 
future  ages  should  comment  upon  their  ashes,  and  having  no 
old  experience  of  the  duration  of  their  Reliques,  held  no  opinion 
of  such  after-considerations. 

But  who  knows  the  fate  of  his  bones,  or  how  often  he  is  to 
be  buried?  who  hath  the  Oracle  of  his  ashes,  or  whether  they 
are  to  be  scattered?  The  Reliques  of  many  lie  like  the  mines  of 
Pompey's,*  in  all  parts  of  the  earth  ;  and  when  they  arrive  at  *Pompeiosjuvenes 

,        ,  i         i  r  i      •  Asia,  atque  Europa, 

your  hands,  these  may  seem  to  have  wandered  jarre,  who  in  a   sedipsum  terra  tezit 
direct^-  and  Meridian  Travell,  have  but  few  miles  of  known 


Earth  between  your  selfe  and  the  Pole.  ^Little  directly,  but 

That  the  bones  of  Theseus  should  be  seen  again  J  in  Athens,    Sea  *"»«**«"  ho"" 

J  t  JT  and  Greenland. 

was  not  beyond  conjecture,  and  hopeful  expectation  ;  but  that 

..       \BroughtbackbyCi- 

these  should  anse  so  opportunely  to  serve  your  self,  was  an  hit    mon^  p/ufarch. 
of  fate  and  honour  beyond  prediction. 

We  cannot  but  wish  these  Urnes  might  have  the  effect  of 


Vlll 


Dedication 


*The  great  Ur ties  in 
the  Hippodrome  at 
Rome  conceived  to  re- 
sound the  voices  of  peo- 
ple at  their  shows. 


•j-  Worthily  possessed  by 
that  true  Gentleman 
Sir  Horatio  Townshend 
my  honoured  Friend. 


\Abiit  adplures. 


§  Which  makes  the 
war  Id  so  many  years  old. 


theatrical  vessels,  and  great  Hippodrome  Urnes  *  in  Rome ; 
to  resound  the  acclamations  and  honour  due  unto  you.  But 
these  are  sad  and  sepulchral  Pitchers,  which  have  no  joyful 
voices ;  silently  expressing  old  mortality,  the  ruines  of  forgotten 
times,  and  can  only  speak  with  life,  how  long  in  this  corrupti- 
ble frame,  some  parts  may  be  uncorrupted ;  yet  able  to  out-last 
bones  long  unborn,  and  noblest  pyle^  among  us. 

We  present  not  these  as  any  strange  sight  or  spectacle  un- 
known to  your  eyes,  who  have  beheld  the  best  of  Urnes,  and 
noblest  variety  of  Ashes ;  who  are  your  self  no  slender  master 
of  Antiquities,  and  can  daily  command  the  view  of  so  many 
Imperial  faces ;  which  raiseth  your  thoughts  unto  old  things, 
and  consideration  of  times  before  you,  when  even  living  men 
were  Antiquities ;  when  the  living  might  exceed  the  dead,  and 
to  depart  this  world,  could  not  be  properly  said  to  go  unto  the 
greater  number.^  And  so  run  up  your  thoughts  upon  the  ancient 
of  dayes,  the  Antiquaries  truest  object,  unto  whom  the  eldest 
parcels  are  young,  and  earth  it  self  an  Infant ;  and  without 
^Egyptian  account  §  makes  but  small  noise  in  thousands. 

We  were  hinted  by  the  occasion,  not  catched  the  opportunity 
to  write  of  old  things,  or  intrude  upon  the  Antiquary.  We  are 
coldly  drawn  unto  discourses  of  Antiquities,  who  have  scarce 
time  before  us  to  comprehend  new  things,  or  make  out  learned 
Novelties.  But  seeing  they  arose  as  they  lay,  almost  in  silence 
among  us,  at  least  in  short  account  suddenly  passed  over,  we 
were  very  unwilling  they  should  die  again,  and  be  buried  twice 
among  us. 

Beside,  to  preserve  the  living,  and  make  the  dead  to  live,  to 


Dedication 


IX 


keep  men  out  of  their  Urnes,  and  discourse  of  humane  fragments 
in  them,  is  not  impertinent  unto  our  profession ;  whose  study  is 
life  and  death,  who  daily  behold  examples  of  mortality,  and 
of  all  men  least  need  artificial  mementos,  or  coffins  by  our  bed 
side,  to  minde  us  of  our  graves. 

'Tis  time  to  observe  Occurrences,  and  let  nothing  remark- 
able escape  us ;  The  Supinity  of  elder  dayes  hath  left  so  much 
in  silence,  or  time  hath  so  martyred  the  Records,  that  the  most 
industrious  *  heads  dojinde  no  easie  work  to  erect  a  new  Bri- 
tannia. 

'Tis  opportune  to  look  back  upon  old  times,  and  contemplate 
our  Fore-fathers.  Great  examples  grow  thin,  and  to  be  fetched 
from  the  passed  world.  Simplicity  flies  away,  and  iniquity 
comes  at  long  strides  upon  us.  We  have  enough  to  do  to  make 
up  our  selves  from  present  and  passed  times,  and  the  whole  stage 
of  things  scarce  serveth  for  our  instruction.  A  compleat  peece 
of  vertue  must  be  made  up  from  the  Centos  of  all  ages,  as  all 
the  beauties  of  Greece  could  make  but  one  handsome  Venus. 

When  the  hones  of  King  Arthur  were  digged  up,*\  the  old 
Race  might  think  they  beheld  therein  some  Originals  of  them- 
selves;  unto  these  of  our  Urnes  none  here  can  pretend  relation, 
and  can  only  behold  the  Reliques  of  those  persons,  who  in  their 
life  giving  the  Laws  unto  their  predecessors,  after  long  obscur- 
ity, now  lye  at  their  mercies.  But  remembering  the  early  civil- 
ity they  brought  upon  these  Countreys,  and  forgetting  long 
passed  mischiefs,  we  mercifully  preserve  their  bones,  and  pisse 
not  upon  their  ashes. 

In  the  offer  of  these  Antiquities  we  drive  not  at  ancient 


*WhereinM.  Dugdale 
hath  excellently  well  en- 
deavoured, and  worthy 
to  be  countenanced  by 
ingenious  and  noble  per- 
sons. 


•\In  the  time  of  Henry 
the  second.  Camden. 


Dedication 


Families,  so  long  out-lasted  by  them ;  We  are  farre  from  erect- 
ing your  worth  upon  the  pillars  of  your  Fore-fathers,  whose 
merits  you  illustrate.  We  honour  your  old  Virtues,  conformable 
unto  times  before  you,  which  are  the  Noblest  Armoury.  And 
having  long  experience  of  your  friendly  conversation,  void  of 
empty  Formality,  full  of  freedome,  constant  and  Generous  Hon- 
*Adamas  de  rupe  ve-  esty,  I  look  upon  you  as  a  Gemme  of  the  Old  Rock,*  and  must 

teriprastantissimu*.         projesse  my  self  even  to  Ume  and  Ashes, 

Tour  ever  faithful  Friend, 

and  Servant, 

THOMAS  BROWNE. 
NORWICH,  May  1. 


URNE-BURIALL 


Urne-Buriall 


CHAPTER  I 

IN  the  deep  discovery  of  the  Subterranean  world,  a  shal- 
low part  would  satisfie  some  enquirers,  who,  if  two  or 
three  yards  were  open  about  the  surface,  would  not 
care  to  wrack  the  bowels  of  Totosi,*  and  regions  towards  *The  rich  mountain  of 
the  Centre.  Nature  hath  furnished  one  part  of  the  Earth,  Peru' 
and  man  another.  The  treasures  of  time  lie  high,  in  Urnes, 
Coynes,  and  Monuments,  scarce  below  the  roots  of  some 
vegetables.  Time  hath  endlesse  rarities,  and  showes  of  all 
varieties ;  which  reveals  old  things  in  heaven,  makes  new 
discoveries  in  earth,  and  even  earth  it  self  a  discovery.  That 
great  antiquity  (^America  lay  buried  for  a  thousand  years ; 
and  a  large  part  of  the  earth  is  still  in  the  Urne  unto  us. 

Though  if  osfdam  were  made  out  of  an  extract  of  the 
earth,  all  parts  might  challenge  a  restitution,  yet  few  have 
returned  their  bones  far  lower  than  they  might  receive 
them,  not  affecting  the  graves  of  Giants  under  hilly  and 
heavy  coverings,  but  content  with  lesse  then  their  own 
depth,  have  wished  their  bones  might  lie  soft,  and  the  earth 
be  light  upon  them.  Even  such  as  hope  to  rise  again,  would 


Hydriotajihia 


not  be  content  with  central  interment,  or  so  desperately  to 
place  their  reliques  as  to  lie  beyond  discovery,  and  in  no 
way  to  be  seen  again ;  which  happy  contrivance  hath  made 
communication  with  our  fore-fathers,  and  left  unto  our  view 
some  parts,  which  they  never  beheld  themselves. 

Though  earth  hath  engrossed  the  name  yet  water  hath 
proved  the  smartest  grave;  which  in  fourty  dayes  swal- 
lowed almost  mankinde,  and  the  living  creation ;  fishes  not 
wholly  escaping,  except  the  salt  Ocean  were  handsomely 
contempered  by  a  mixture  of  the  fresh  Element. 

Many  have  taken  voluminous  pains  to  determine  the 
state  of  the  soul  upon  disunion ;  but  men  have  been  most 
phantastical  in  the  singular  contrivances  of  their  corporal 
dissolution:  whilest  the  soberest  Nations  have  rested  in 
two  wayes,  of  simple  inhumation  and  burning. 

That  carnal  interment  or  burying  was  of  the  elder  date, 
the  old  examples  o^^Alraham  and  the  Patriarches  are  suf- 
ficient to  illustrate,  and  were  without  competition,  if  it  could 
be  made  out,  that  ^Adam  was  buried  near  to  'Damascus,  or 
Mount  Calvary,  according  to  some  Tradition,  God  himself 
that  buried  but  one,  was  pleased  to  make  choice  of  this  way, 
collectible  from  Scripture-expression,  and  the  hot  contest 
between  Satan  and  the  Arch- Angel,  about  discovering  the 
body  of  <*j7l4oses.  But  the  practice  of  burning  was  also  of  great 
Antiquity,  and  of  no  slender  extent.  For  (not  to  derive  the 
fame  from  Hercules}  noble  descriptions  there  are  hereof  in 
the  Qredan  Funeral  of  Homer,  in  the  formal  Obsequies  of 
'Patroclus,  and  <±Achilles ;  and  somewhat  elder  in  the  Theban 


Urne-Buriall 


war,  and  solemn  combustion  of  (J/Weneceus,  and 
morus,  contemporary  unto  Jair  the  Eighth  Judge  of  Israel. 
Confirmable  also  among  the  Trojans,  from  the  Funeral  Pyre 
of  Hector,  burnt  before  the  gates  of  Troy*  and  the  burning 
of  Tenthesilea  the  ^Amazonian  Queen,  and  long  continu- 
ance of  that  practice  in  the  inward  Countries  ofo^fsia;  while 
as  low  as  the  Reign  of  Julian,  we  finde  that  the  King  ofChio- 
nia~\-  burnt  the  body  of  his  Son,  and  interred  the  ashes  in  a 
silver  Urne. 

The  same  practice  extended  also  far  West,  J  and  besides 
Herulians,  0-etes,  and  Thracians,  was  in  use  with  most  of  the 
Celta,  Sarmatians,  Qermans,  0-auls,  'Danes,  Swedes,  'Norwe- 
gians ;  not  to  omit  some  use  thereof  among  Carthaginians 
and  (Americans :  of  greater  antiquity  among  the  Romanes 
then  most  opinion,  or  Tliny  seems  to  allow.  For  (beside  the 
old  Table  Laws  of  burning  §  or  burying  within  the  City,  of 
making  the  Funeral  fire  with  plained  wood,  or  quenching 
the  fire  with  wine)  (^Manlius  the  Consul  burnt  the  body  of 
his  son ;  f]^uma  by  special  clause  of  his  will,  was  not  burnt 
but  buried ;  And  <T$emus  was  solemnly  buried,  according  to 
the  description  of  Ovid.\\ 

Cornelius  Sylla  was  not  the  first  whose  body  was  burned 
in  <rRome,  but  of  the  Cornelian  Family,  which  being  indiffer- 
ently, not  frequently  used  before,  from  that  time  spread 
and  became  the  prevalent  practice.  Not  totally  pursued  in 
the  highest  run  of  Cremation ;  For  when  even  crows  were 
funerally  burnt,  Toppaa  the  wife  of  ^l^ero  found  a  peculiar 
grave  interment.  Now  as  all  customs  were  founded  upon 


*4>.  Calaber,  lib.  I . 


•\Ammianus  Marcel- 
linus,  Gumbrates  King 
of  Chionia  a  Countrey 
near  Persia. 

Arnold.  Montan.  not- 
in  C<es.  Commentar. 
L.  L.  Gyraldus.  Kirk- 
mannus. 


§12  Tabul.part.  I,  de 
jure  sacro.  Hominem 
mortuum  in  urbe  ne 
sepelito,  neve  urito,  torn. 
2,  Rogumasciane 
polito.  to.  4.  Item 
Vigeneri  Annotat.  in 
Livium,  &  Alex,  cum 
Tiraquello.  Roscinus 
cum  Dempstero. 

1 1  Ultima  prolato  subdita 
Jlamma  rogo.  De  Fast, 
lib.  4  cum  Car.  Neapol. 
Anaptyxi. 


Hydriotaphia 


some  bottom  of  Reason,  so  there  wanted  not  grounds  for 
this,  according  to  several  apprehensions  of  the  most  rational 
dissolution.  Some  being  of  the  opinion  of  Tholes,  that  water 
was  the  original  of  all  things,  thought  it  most  equal  to  sub- 
mit unto  the  principle  of  putrefaction,  and  conclude  in  a 
moist  relentment.  Others  conceived  it  most  natural  to  end 
in  fire,  as  due  unto  the  master  principle  in  the  composition, 
according  to  the  doctrine  of  Heraclitus.  And  therefore 
heaped  up  large  piles,  more  actively  to  waft  them  toward 
that  Element,  whereby  they  also  declined  a  visible  degen- 
eration into  worms,  and  left  a  lasting  parcel  of  their  compo- 
sition. 

Some  apprehended  a  purifying  virtue  in  fire,  refining  the 
grosser  commixture,  and  firing  out  the  Ethereal  particles  so 
deeply  immersed  in  it.  And  such  as  by  tradition  or  rational 
conjecture  held  any  hint  of  the  final  pyre  of  all  things ;  or 
that  this  Element  at  last  must  be  too  hard  for  all  the  rest ; 
might  conceive  most  naturally  of  the  fiery  dissolution. 
Others  pretending  no  natural  grounds,  politickly  declined 
the  malice  of  enemies  upon  their  buried  bodies.  Which  con- 
sideration led  Sylla  unto  this  practice;  who  having  thus 
served  the  body  of<*JMarius,  could  not  but  fear  a  retaliation 
upon  his  own ;  entertained  after  in  the  Civil  wars,  and  re- 
vengeful contentions  of  ^ome. 

But  as  many  Nations  embraced,  and  many  left  it  indiffer- 
ent, so  others  too  much  affected,  or  strictly  declined  this 
practice.  The  Indian  Brachmans  seemed  too  great  friends 
unto  fire,  who  burnt  themselves  alive,  and  thought  it  the 


Urne-Buriall 


noblest  way  to  end  their  dayes  in  fire ;  according  to  the  ex- 
pression of  the  Indian,  burning  himself  at  (Athens*  in  his 
last  words  upon  the  pyre  unto  the  amazed  spectators,  Thus 
I  make  myself  immortal. 

But  the  Chaldeans,  the  great  Idolaters  of  fire,  abhorred 
the  burning  of  their  carcasses,  as  a  pollution  of  that  Deity. 
The  ^Persian  <±tylagi  declined  it  upon  the  like  scruple,  and 
being  only  solicitous  about  their  bones,  exposed  their  flesh 
to  the  prey  of  Birds  and  Dogs.  And  the  Tersees  now  in 
India,  which  expose  their  bodies  unto  Vultures,  and  endure 
not  so  much  as  feretra  or  Biers  of  Wood,  the  proper  Fuell 
of  fire,  are  led  on  with  such  niceties.  But  whether  the  ancient 
Cj-ermans  who  buried  their  dead,  held  any  such  fear  to 
pollute  their  Deity  of  Herthus,  or  the  earth,  we  have  no 
Authentick  conjecture. 

The  ^Egyptians  were  afraid  of  fire,  not  as  a  Deity,  but  a 
devouring  Element,  mercilesly  consuming  their  bodies,  and 
leaving  too  little  of  them ;  and  therefore  by  precious  Em- 
balments,  depositure  in  dry  earths,  or  handsome  inclosure 
in  glasses,  contrived  the  notablest  wayes  of  integral  con- 
servation. And  from  such  ^Egyptian  scruples  imbibed  by 
^Pythagoras,  it  may  be  conjectured  that  e]^uma  and  the  Py- 
thagorical  Sect  first  waved  the  fiery  solution. 

The  Scythians  who  swore  by  winde  and  sword,  that  is, 
by  life  and  death,  were  so  far  from  burning  their  bodies, 
that  they  declined  all  interment,  and  made  their  graves  in 
the  air.  And  the  Ichthyophagi  or  fish-eating  Nations  about 
JEgypt,  affected  the  Sea  for  their  grave :  thereby  declining 


*And  therefore  the 
Inscription  of  his  Tomb 
was  made  accordingly. 
Nif.  Damas. 


Hydriotaphia 


*  Which  Magiui  reads 


•\Diodorus  Sifu/us. 


^Ramusius  in  Navigat 


§ 

Cyprian. 


visible  corruption,  and  restoring  the  debt  of  their  bodies. 
Whereas  the  old  Heroes  in  Homer  dreaded  nothing  more 
than  water  or  drowning ;  probably  upon  the  old  opinion  of 
the  fiery  substance  of  the  soul,  onely  extinguishable  by  that 
Element ;  and  therefore  the  Poet  emphatically  implieth  the 
total  destruction  in  this  kinde  of  death,  which  happened  to 
d/4jax  O ileus.* 

The  old  Balearians-\  had  a  peculiar  mode,  for  they  used 
great  Urnes  and  much  wood,  but  no  fire  in  their  burials ; 
while  they  bruised  the  flesh  and  bones  of  the  dead,  crowded 
them  into  Urnes,  and  laid  heaps  of  wood  upon  them.  And 
the  Chinese"^  without  cremation  or  urnal  interment  of  their 
bodies,  make  use  of  trees  and  much  burning,  while  they 
plant  a  Pine-tree  by  their  grave,  and  burn  great  numbers  of 
printed  draughts  of  slaves  and  horses  over  it,  civilly  content 
with  their  companies  in  effigie,  which  barbarous  Nations 
exact  unto  reality. 

Christians  abhorred  this  way  of  obsequies,  and  though 
they  stick  not  to  give  their  bodies  to  be  burnt  in  their  lives, 
detested  that  mode  after  death ;  affecting  rather  a  depositure 
than  absumption,  and  properly  submitting  unto  the  sentence 
of  God,  to  return  not  unto  ashes  but  unto  dust  again,  con- 
formable unto  the  practice  of  the  Patriarches,  the  interment 
of  our  Saviour,  of  Teter,  Taut,  and  the  ancient  Martyrs.  And 
so  far  at  last  declining  promiscuous  interment  with  Pagans, 
that  some  have  suffered  Ecclesiastical  censures,  for  making 
is  the  Bishop,  no  scruple  thereof.  § 

The  d^!4usselman  believers  will  never  admit  this  fiery  re- 


Urne-Buriall 


solution.  For  they  hold  a  present  trial  from  their  black  and 
white  Angels  in  the  grave ;  which  they  must  have  made  so 
hollow,  that  they  may  rise  upon  their  knees. 

The  Jewish  Nation,  though  they  entertained  the  old 
way  of  inhumation,  yet  sometimes  admitted  this  practice. 
For  the  men  of  Jabesh  burnt  the  body  of  Saul.  And  by  no 
prohibited  practice  to  avoid  contagion  or  pollution,  in  the 
time  of  pestilence,  burnt  the  bodies  of  their  friends.*  And 
when  they  burnt  not  their  dead  bodies,  yet  sometimes  used 
great  burnings  near  and  about  them,  deducible  from  the 
expressions  concerning  Jehoram,  Sedechias,  and  the  sump- 
tuous pyre  of  ^/tsa:  and  were  so  little  averse  from  Pagan 
burning,-f  that  the  Jews  lamenting  the  death  of  C<zsar  their 
friend,  and  revenger  on  Tompey,  frequented  the  place  where 
his  body  was  burnt  for  many  nights  together.  And  as  they 
raised  noble  Monuments  and  Mausolaeums  for  their  own 
Nation,  J  so  they  were  not  scrupulous  in  erecting  some  for 
others,  according  to  the  practice  of  'Daniel,  who  left  that 
lasting  sepulchral  pyle  in  Echbatana,  for  the  ^ledian  and 
Persian  Kings. § 

But  even  in  times  of  subjection  and  hottest  use,  they  con- 
formed not  unto  the  f%omane  practice  of  burning ;  whereby 
the  prophecy  was  secured  concerning  the  body  of  Christ, 
that  it  should  not  see  corruption,  or  a  bone  shall  not  be 
broken ;  which  we  believe  was  also  providentially  prevented, 
from  the  Soldiers  spear  and  nailes  that  past  by  the  little 
bones  both  in  his  hands  and  feet :  Not  of  ordinary  contriv- 
ance, that  it  should  not  corrupt  on  the  crosse,  according  to 


*Amos  VI  i  o. 


f  Sue  ton.  in  vita  Jul. 
C<es. 


\As  that  magnificent 
sepulchral  Monument 
erected  by  Simon.  Mace. 
/.  13. 

§  Koracr/cevacr/Aa  Sau- 


whereof  a  Jewish 
Priest  had  always  the 
custody  unto  Josephus 
his  dayes.  Jos.  Antiq. 
Lib.  IO. 


8  Hydriot  aphid 

the  Law  of  ^Romane  Crucifixion,  or  an  hair  of  his  head  per- 
ish, though  observable  in  Jewish  customes,  to  cut  the  haires 
of  Malefactors. 

Nor  in  their  long  co-habitation  with  the  ^Egyptians,  crept 
into  a  custome  of  their  exact  embalming,  wherein  deeply 
slashing  the  muscles,  and  taking  out  the  braines  and  entrails, 
they  had  broken  the  subject  of  so  entire  a  Resurrection,  nor 
fully  answered  the  types  of  Enoch,  Elijah,  or  Jonah,  which 
yet  to  prevent  or  restore,  was  of  equal  facility  unto  that  ris- 
ing power,  able  to  break  the  fasciations  and  bands  of  death, 
to  get  clear  out  of  the  Cere-cloth,  and  a  hundred  pounds  of 
ointment,  and  out  of  the  Sepulchre  before  the  stone  was 
rolled  from  it. 

But  though  they  embraced  not  this  practice  of  burn- 
ing, yet  entertained  they  many  ceremonies  agreeable  unto 
(j-reek  and  <~Romane  obsequies.  And  he  that  observeth  their 
Funeral  Feasts,  their  lamentations  at  the  grave,  their  musick 
and  weeping  mourners ;  how  they  closed  the  eyes  of  their 
friends,  how  they  washed,  anointed,  and  kissed  the  dead ; 
may  easily  conclude  these  were  not  mere  Pagan-Civilities. 
But  whether  that  mournful  burthen,  and  treble  calling  out 
after  Absalom,  had  any  reference  to  the  last  conclamation, 
and  triple  valediction,  used  by  other  nations,  we  hold  but  a 
wavering  conjecture. 

Civilians  make  sepulture  but  of  the  Law  of  nations,  others 
do  naturally  found  it  and  discover  it  also  in  animals.  They 
that  are  so  thick  skinned  as  still  to  credit  the  story  of  the 
'Phoenix,  may  say  something  for  animal  burning.  More  se- 


Urne-Buriall 


rious  conjectures  finde  some  examples  of  sepulture  in  Ele- 
phants, Cranes,  the  Sepulchral  Cells  of  Pismires  and  practice 
of  Bees ;  which  civil  society  carrieth  out  their  dead,  and  hath 
exequies,  if  not  interments. 


CHAPTER  II 


I 


Solemnities,  Ceremonies,  Rites  of  their  crema- 
tion or  interment,  so  solemnly  delivered  by  Au- 
thours,  we  shall  not  disparage  our  Reader  to 
repeat.  Only  the  last  and  lasting  part  of  their  Urnes,  col- 
lected bones  and  Ashes,  we  cannot  wholly  omit,  or  decline 
that  Subject,  which  occasion  lately  presented,  in  some  dis- 
covered among  us. 

In  a  Field  of  old  Walsingham,  not  many  months  past, 
were  digged  up  between  forty  and  fifty  Urnes,  deposited  in 
a  dry  and  sandy  soile,  not  a  yard  deep,  not  far  from  one 
another :  not  all  strictly  of  one  figure,  but  most  answering 
these  described ;  some  containing  two  pounds  of  bones,  dis- 
tinguishable in  skulls,  ribs,  jawes,  thigh-bones,  and  teeth, 
with  fresh  impressions  of  their  combustion.  Besides  the  ex- 
traneous substances,  like  pieces  of  small  boxes,  or  combs 
handsomely  wrought,  handles  of  small  brasse  instruments, 
brazen  nippers,  and  in  one  some  kind  of  Opale.* 

Near  the  same  plot  of  ground,  for  about  six  yards  com- 
passe  were  digged  up  coals  and  incinerated  substances, 


*/«  one  sent  me  by  my 
worthy  friend  Dr. 
Thomas  Whitherley 
of  Walsingham. 


10 


Hydriotafihia 


which  begat  conjecture  that  this  was  the  Ustrina  or  place 
of  burning  their  bodies,  or  some  sacrificing  place  unto  the 
Manes,  which  was  properly  below  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  as  the  Arae  and  Altars  unto  the  gods  and  Heroes 
above  it. 

That  these  were  the  Urnes  of  Romanes  from  the  com- 
mon custome  and  place  where  they  were  found,  is  no  ob- 
scure conjecture,  not  far  from  a  'Jtynane  Garrison,  and  but 
five  mile  from  Brancaster,  set  down  by  ancient  Record 
under  the  name  of  Brannodunum.  And  where  the  adjoyning 
Town,  containing  seven  Parishes,  in  no  very  different  sound, 
but  Saxon  termination,  still  retaines  the  Name  of  Burnham, 
which  being  an  early  station,  it  is  not  improbable  the  neigh- 
bour parts  were  filled  with  habitations,  either  of  Romanes 
themselves,  or  Brittains  Romanised,  which  observed  the 
^Komane  customes. 

Nor  is  it  improbable  that  the  Romanes  early  possessed 
this  Country ;  for  though  we  meet  not  with  such  strict  par- 
ticulars of  these  parts,  before  the  new  Institution  of  Con- 
stantine,  and  military  charge  of  the  Count  of  the  Saxon 
shore,  and  that  about  the  Saxon  Invasions,  the  'Dalmatian 
Horsemen  were  in  the  Garrison  of  Branchaster,  yet  in  the 
time  of  Claudius,  Vespasian,  and  Severus,  we  finde  no  lesse 
then  three  Legions  dispersed  through  the  Province  of  Brit- 
tain.  And  as  high  as  the  Reign  of  Claudius  a  great  over- 
throw was  given  unto  the  Iceni,  by  the  f^omane  Lieutenant 
Ostorius.  Not  long  after  the  Country  was  so  molested,  that 
in  hope  of  a  better  state  Trasutagus  bequeathed  his  King- 


Urne-Buriall 


11 


dom  unto  ^(ero  and  his  Daughters ;  and  Boadicea  his  Queen 
fought  the  last  decisive  Battle  with  Taulinus.  After  which 
time  and  Conquest  of<i/fgfieola  the  Lieutenant  of  Vespasian, 
probable  it  is  they  wholly  possessed  this  Countrey,  ordering 
it  into  Garrisons  or  Habitations,  best  suitable  with  their  se- 
curities. And  so  some  f%omane  habitations  not  improbable  in 
these  parts,  as  high  as  the  time  of  Vespasian,  where  the 
Saxons  after  seated,  in  whose  thin-filFd  Mappes  we  yet 
finde  the  Name  of  Walsingham.  Now  if  the  Iceni  were  but 
Q-ammadims,  d/fnconians,  or  men  that  lived  in  an  Angle 
wedge  or  Elbow  of  Brittain,  according  to  the  Original  Ety- 
mologic, this  countrey  will  challenge  the  Emphatical  appel- 
lation, as  most  properly  making  the  Elbow  or  Iken  of 
Icenia. 

That  Brittain  was  notably  populous  is  undeniable,  from 
that  expression  of  Casar.*  That  the  Romanes  themselves 
were  early  in  no  small  numbers,  Seventy  Thousand  with 
their  associates  slain  by  Boadicea,  affords  a  sure  account. 
And  though  many  ^omane  habitations  are  now  known,  yet 
some  by  old  works,  Rampiers,  Coynes,  and  Urnes  do  testifie 
their  possessions.  Some  Urnes  have  been  found  at  Castor, 
some  also  about  South-creeke  and  not  many  years  past,  no 
lesse  then  ten  in  a  field  at  Buxtone,-^-  not  nere  any  recorded 
Garrison.  Nor  is  it  strange  to  finde  cl(omane  Coynes  of  Cop- 
per and  Silver  among  us ;  of  Vespasian,  Trajan,  ^Adrian, 
Commodus,  (^Antoninus,  Severus,  &c.  But  the  greater  num- 
ber of  ^Dioclesian,  Constantine,  Constans,  Valens,  with  many 
of  Victorinus  ^Posthumius,  Tetricus,  and  the  thirty  Tyrants 


\Hominum  infnita 
multitude  est,  creberri- 
maque  ;  (edifida  fere 
Gallicis  consimilia. 
Cas.de  Bella  Gal.  7.5. 


•\In  the  ground  of  my 
worthy  Friend  Rob. 
Jegon  Esq.  wherein 
some  things  contained 
were  preserved  by  the 
most  worthy  Sir  Wil- 
liam Paston  St. 


Hydriotaphia 


*From  Castor  to  Thet- 
ford  the  Romans  ac- 
counted thirty  two  miles, 
and  from  thence  ob- 
served not  our  common 
road  to  London,  but 
passed  by  Combretonium 
ad  Ansam,  Canonium, 
Ceesaromagus,  &c.  by 
Bretenham,Coggeshall, 
Chelmesford,  Burnt- 
wood,  &c. 

•fMost  at  Castor  by  Tar- 
mouth,  found  in  a  place 
called  East-bloudyburgh 
Furlong,  belonging  to 
Mr.  Thomas  Wood,  a 
person  of  civility, indus- 
try and  knowledge  in  this 
way,  who  hath  made  ob- 
servation of  remarkable 
things  about  him,  and 
from  whom  we  have 
received  divers  Silver 
and  Copper  Coynes. 
"^Belonging  to  that  No- 
ble Gentleman,  and  true 
example  of  worth  Sir 
Ralph  Hare  Baronet, 
my  honoured  Friend. 
§  A  piece  of  Maud  the 
Empresse  said  to  be 
found  in  Buckenham 
Castle  with  this  in- 
scription, Elle  n'  a  elle. 
\\At  Thorpe. 
^Br amp  ton  Abbas 
Journallensis. 


in  the  Reigne  of  (jallienus ;  and  some  as  high  as  <±/[drianus 
have  been  found  about  Thetford,  or  Sitomagus,  mentioned  in 
the  itinerary  of  ^/fntoninus,  as  the  way  from  Venta  or  Cas- 
tor unto  London*  But  the  most  frequent  discovery  is  made 
at  the  two  Castors  by  fl^orwich  and  Tarmouth^  at  Burgh- 
castle  and  Brancaster.% 

Besides,  the  f]^orman>  Saxon  and  'Danish  pieces  of  Cuth- 
red,  Canutus,  William,  <*J7l4atilda9§  and  others,  some  Brittish 
Coynes  of  gold  have  been  dispersedly  found ;  and  no  small 
number  of  silver  pieces  neer||  f^orwich  with  a  rude  head 
upon  the  obverse,  and  an  ill-formed  horse  on  the  reverse, 
with  inscriptions  Ic.  <Duro  T.  whether  implying  Iceni,  'Duro- 
riges,  Tascia,  or  Trinobantes,  we  leave  to  higher  conjecture. 
Vulgar  Chronology  will  have  e]^orwich  Castle  as  old  as  Julius 
Casar;  but  his  distance  from  these  parts,  and  its  Cj-othick 
form  of  structure,  abridgeth  such  Antiquity.  The  Brittish 
Coynes  afford  conjecture  of  early  habitation  in  these  parts, 
though  the  city  of  ^Norwich  arose  from  the  ruines  of  Venta, 
and  though  perhaps  not  without  some  habitation  before,  was 
enlarged,  builded,  and  nominated  by  the  Saxons.  In  what 
bulk  or  populosity  it  stood  in  the  old  East-angle  Monarchy, 
tradition  and  history  are  silent.  Considerable  it  was  in  the 
'Danish  Eruptions,  when  Sueno  burnt  Thetford  and  fl{or- 
wich,^  and  Ulfketel  the  Governour  thereof  was  able  to 
make  some  resistance,  and  after  endeavoured  to  burn  the 
'Danish  Navy. 

How  the  Romanes  left  so  many  Coynes  in  countries  of 
their  Conquests,  seemes  of  hard  resolution,  except  we  con- 


Urne-Buriall  13 


sider  how  they  buried  them  under  ground,  when  upon  bar- 
barous invasions  they  were  fain  to  desert  their  habitations 
in  most  part  of  their  Empire,  and  the  strictnesse  of  their 
laws  forbidding  to  transfer  them  to  any  other  uses ;  wherein 
the  Spartans*  were  singular,  who  to  make  their  copper  */>/*/.  in  Vjta 
money  uselesse,  contempered  it  with  vinegar.  That  the  Brit- 
tains  left  any,  some  wonder;  since  their  money  was  iron, 
and  iron  rings  before  Casar;  and  those  of  after-stamp  by 
permission,  and  but  small  in  bulk  and  bignesse ;  that  so  few 
of  the  Saxons  remain,  because  overcome  by  succeeding 
Conquerors  upon  the  place,  their  coynes  by  degrees  passed 
into  other  stamps,  and  the  marks  of  after  ages. 

Than  the  time  of  these  Urnes  deposited,  or  precise  An- 
tiquity of  these  Reliques,  nothing  of  more  uncertainty.  For 
since  the  Lieutenant  of  Claudius  seems  to  have  made  the  first 
progresse  into  these  parts,  since  Boadicea  was  overthrown 
by  the  forces  of  fl{ero,  and  dAgricola  put  a  full  end  to  these 
Conquests,  it  is  not  probable  the  Countrey  was  fully  gar- 
risoned or  planted  before;  and  therefore  however  these 
Urnes  might  be  of  later  date,  not  likely  of  higher  Anti- 
quity. 

And  the  succeeding  Emperours  desisted  not  from  their 
Conquests  in  these  and  other  parts ;  as  testified  by  history 
and  medal  inscription  yet  extant.  The  Province  of  Brittain 
in  so  divided  a  distance  from  Rome,  beholding  the  faces  of 
many  imperial  persons,  and  in  large  account  no  fewer  then 
Casar,  Claudius,  Britannicus,  Vespasian,  Titus, 
Severus,  Commodus,  Cjeta,  and  Caracalla. 


14 


Hydriotafihia 


A  great  obscurity  herein,  because  no  medal  or  Emper- 
our's  coyne  enclosed,  which  might  denote  the  dates  of  their 
interments ;  observable  in  many  Urnes,  and  found  in  those 
*Stowis  Survey  ofLon.  of  Spittle  Fields  by  London,*  which  contained  the  coynes  of 
Claudius,  Vespasian,  Commodus,  ^Antoninus,  attended  with 
Lacrymatories,  Lamps,  Bottles  of  Liquor,  and  other  appurt- 
enances of  affectionate  superstition,  which  in  these  rural  in- 
terments were  wanting. 

Some  uncertainty  there  is  from  the  period  or  term  of 
burning,  or  the  cessation  of  that  practice.  (JMacrobius  af- 
firmeth  it  was  disused  in  his  dayes.  But  most  agree,  though 
without  authentick  record,  that  it  ceased  with  the  ^/fntonini. 
Most  safely  to  be  understood  after  the  Reigne  of  those  Em- 
perours,  which  assumed  the  name  ofoSfntoninus,  extending 
untoHeliogabalus.  Not  strictly  after  <*J7l4arcus;  for  about  fifty 
years  later  we  finde  the  magnificent  burning  and  consecra- 
tion of  Severus ;  and  if  we  so  fix  this  period  or  cessation, 
these  Urnes  will  challenge  above  thirteen  hundred  years. 

But  whether  this  practice  was  onely  then  left  by  Emper- 
ours  and  great  persons,  or  generally  about  ^orney  and  not 
in  other  Provinces,  we  hold  no  authentick  account.  For  after 
Tertullian,  in  the  dayes  of  <*Jttinudus  it  was  obviously  ob- 
jected upon  Christians,  that  they  condemned  the  practice  of 
burning.-f  And  we  find  a  passage  in  Sidonius^  which  assert- 
eth  that  practice  in  France  unto  a  lower  account.  And  per- 
haps not  fully  disused  till  Christianity  fully  established,  which 
gave  the  final  extinction  to  these  Sepulchral  Bonefires. 

Whether  they  were  the  bones  of  men  or  women  or  child- 


•\Execrantur  rogos,  et 
damnant  ignium  sepul- 
turam.  Min.  in  Oct. 

"[Sidon.  Apollinaris. 


Urne-Buriall 


ren,  no  authentick  decision  from  ancient  custome  in  distinct 
places  of  burial.  Although  not  improbably  conjectured,  that 
the  double  Sepulture  or  burying  place  of  (^Abraham,  had 
in  it  such  intention.  But  from  exility  of  bones,  thinness  of 
skulls,  smallness  of  teeth,  ribbes,  and  thigh-bones,  not  im- 
probable that  many  thereof  were  persons  of  minor  age,  or 
women.  Confirmable  also  from  things  contained  in  them : 
in  most  were  found  substances  resembling  Combes,  Plates 
like  Boxes,  fastened  with  Iron  pins,  and  handsomely  over- 
wrought like  the  necks  or  Bridges  of  Musical  Instruments, 
long  brass  plates  overwrought  like  the  handles  of  neat  im- 
plements, brazen  nippers  to  pull  away  hair,  and  in  one  a 
kinde  of  Opale  yet  maintaining  a  blewish  colour. 

Now  that  they  accustomed  to  burn  or  bury  with  them, 
things  wherein  they  excelled,  delighted,  or  which  were  dear 
unto  them,  either  as  farewells  unto  all  pleasure,  or  vain  ap- 
prehension that  they  might  use  them  in  the  other  world,  is 
testified  by  all  Antiquity.  Observable  from  the  Gemme  or 
Beril  Ring  upon  the  finger  of  Cynthia,  the  Mistress  of  *Pro- 
pertius,  when  after  her  Funeral  Pyre  her  Ghost  appeared 
unto  him.  And  notably  illustrated  from  the  Contents  of  that 
T^omane  Urne  preserved  by  Cardinal  Farnese,*  wherein  be- 
sides great  number  of  Gemmes  with  heads  of  Gods  and 
Goddesses,  were  found  an  Ape  of  Agath,  a  Grashopper, 
an  Elephant  of  Ambre,  a  Crystal  Ball,  three  glasses,  two 
Spoons,  and  six  Nuts  of  Crystal.  And  beyond  the  content 
of  Urnes,  in  the  Monument  of  Childrick  the  first/f  and 
fourth  King  from  Tharamond,  casually  discovered  three 


*Vigeneri  Annot.  in  4. 
Liv. 


f  Chifflet  in  Anast, 
Childer. 


16 


Hydriotafihia 


years  past  at  Tournay,  restoring  unto  the  world  much  gold 
richly  adorning  his  Sword,  two  hundred  Rubies,  many  hun- 
dred Imperial  Coynes,  three  hundred  Golden  Bees,  the 
bones  and  horseshoe  of  his  horse  interred  with  him  ac- 
cording to  the  barbarous  magnificence  of  those  dayes  in 
their  sepulchral  Obsequies.  Although  if  we  steer  by  the 
conjecture  of  many  and  Septuagint  expression,  some  trace 
thereof  may  be  found  even  with  the  ancient  Hebrews,  not 
onely  from  the  Sepulcral  treasure  of 'David,  but  the  circum- 
cision knives  which  Joshua  also  buried. 

Some  men  considering  the  contents  of  these  Urnes,  last- 
ing pieces  and  toyes  included  in  them,  and  the  custome  of 
burning  with  many  other  Nations,  might  somewhat  doubt 
whether  all  Urnes  found  among  us  were  properly  T^omane 
Reliques,  or  some  not  belonging  unto  our  Brinish,  Saxon , 
or  Ttanish  Forefathers. 

In  the  form  of  Burial  among  the  ancient  Brittains,  the 
large  Discourses  of  Casar,  Tacitus,  and  Strabo  are  silent  : 
for  the  discovery  whereof,  with  other  particulars,  we  much 
deplore  the  loss  of  that  Letter  which  Cicero  expected  or  re- 
ceived from  his  Brother  Quintus,  as  a  resolution  of  Brittish 
customes  ;  or  the  account  which  might  have  been  made  by 
Scribonius  Largus  the  Physician,  accompanying  the  Em- 
perour  Claudius,  who  might  have  also  discovered  that  frugal 
*Dioms excerpta per  Bit*  of  the  old  Brittains,  which  in  the  bigness  of  a  Bean 
ilin,  in  Severe.  CQU^  satisfie  their  thirst  and  hunger. 

But  that  the  Druids  and  ruling  Priests  used  to  burn  and 
bury,  is  expressed  by  ^Pomponius ;  that  Bellinus  the  Brother 


Urne-Buriall  17 


of  Brennus,and  King  ofBrittains  was  burnt,  is  acknowledged 
by  Tolydorus,  as  also  by  ^/fmandus  Zierexensis  in  Historia, 
and  Tineda  in  his  Universa  Historia  (Spanish).  That  they 
held  that  practice  in  (pallia,  Ccesar  expressly  delivereth. 
Whether  the  Brittains  (probably  descended  from  them,  of 
like  Religion,  Language  and  Manners)  did  not  sometimes 
make  use  of  burning ;  or  whether  at  least  such  as  were  after 
civilized  unto  the  <T$omane  life  and  manners  conformed  not 
unto  this  practice,  we  have  no  historical  assertion  or  denial. 
But  since  from  the  account  of  Tacitus  the  Ttomanes  early 
wrought  so  much  civility  upon  the  Brittish  stock,  that  they 
brought  them  to  build  Temples,  to  wear  the  Gown,  and 
study  the  <r^omane  Laws  and  Language,  that  they  conformed 
also  unto  their  Religious  rites  and  customes  in  burials,  seems 
no  improbable  conjecture. 

That  burning  the  dead  was  used  in  Sarmatia,  is  affirmed 
by  (jaguinus,  that  the  Sueons  and  Qoihlanders  used  to  burn 
their  Princes  and  great  persons,  is  delivered  by  Saxo  and 
Olaus;  that  this  was  the  old  germane  practice,  is  also  as- 
serted by  Tacitus.  And  though  we  are  bare  in  historical  par- 
ticulars of  such  obsequies  in  this  Island,  or  that  the  Saxons, 
Jutes,  and  ^/Ingles  burnt  their  dead,  yet  came  they  from 
parts  where  'twas  of  ancient  practice;  the  Qermanes  using 
it,  from  whom  they  were  descended.  And  even  in  Jutland 
and  Sleswick  in  ^Inglia  Cymbrica,  Urnes  with  bodies  were 
found  not  many  years  before  us. 

But  the  'Danish  and  Northern  Nations  have  raised  an  Aera 
or  point  of  compute  from  their  Custome  of  burning  their 


18 


Hydriotaphia 


*Roisold,  Brendetyde. 
Ildtyde. 


f  Olai  Wormii  Monu- 
menta  et  Antiquitat. 
Dan. 


dead:*  Some  deriving  it  from  Unguinus,  some  from  Frotho 
the  great ;  who  ordained  by  Law,  that  Princes  and  Chief 
Commanders  should  be  committed  unto  the  fire,  though  the 
common  sort  had  the  common  grave  interment.  So  Stark- 
atterus  that  old  Heroe  was  burnt,  and  l^ingo  royally  burnt 
the  body  of  Harold  the  King  slain  by  him. 

What  time  this  custome  generally  expired  in  that  Nation, 
we  discern  no  assured  period ;  whether  it  ceased  before 
Christianity,  or  upon  their  Conversion,  by  o^fusgurius  the 
Qaul  in  the  time  of  Ludovicus  Tius  the  Son  of  Charles  the 
Great,  according  to  good  computes ;  or  whether  it  might 
not  be  used  by  some  persons,  while  for  a  hundred  and  eighty 
years  Paganisme  and  Christianity  were  promiscuously 
embraced  among  them,  there  is  no  assured  conclusion. 
About  which  times  the  'Danes  were  busie  in  England,  and 
particularly  infested  this  Countrey :  where  many  Castles 
and  strong  holds  were  built  by  them,  or  against  them,  and 
a  great  number  of  names  and  Families  still  derived  from 
them.  But  since  this  custome  was  probably  disused  before 
their  Invasion  or  Conquest,  and  the  Romanes  confessedly 
practiced  the  same,  since  their  possession  of  this  Island,  the 
most  assured  account  will  fall  upon  the  Romanes,  or  Brit- 
tains  Romanized. 

However,  certain  it  is  that  Urnes  conceived  of  no  f%pj 
mane  Original,  are  often  digged  up  both  in  IJorway  and 
'Denmark,  handsomely  described,  and  graphically  repre- 
sented by  the  Learned  Physician  Wormius;-\  and  in  some 
parts  of  'Denmark  in  no  ordinary  number,  as  stands  deliv- 


Urne-Buriall 


ered  by  Authors  exactly  describing  those  Countreys.  And* 
they  contained  not  onely  bones,  but  many  other  substances 
in  them,  as  Knives,  pieces  of  Iron,  Brass  and  Wood,  and  one 
of  ^(orway  a  brass  guilded  Jewes  harp. 

Nor  were  they  confused  or  careless  in  disposing  the  no- 
blest sort,  while  they  placed  large  stones  in  circle  about  the 
Urnes,  or  bodies  which  they  interred  ;  somewhat  answer- 
able unto  the  Monument  ofl^ollrich  stones  in  England,-^  or 
sepulcral  Monument  probably  erected  by  T^dlo,  who  after 
conquered  ^ormandy ;  where  't  is  not  improbable  some- 
what might  be  discovered.  Mean  while  to  what  Nation  or 
person  belonged  that  large  Urne  found  at  ^Ashbury^  con- 
taining mighty  bones,  and  a  Buckler;  what  those  large 
Urnes  found  at  little  <*Jl4assingham,§  or  why  the  d/fnglesea 
Urnes  are  placed  with  their  mouths  downward,  remains  yet 
undiscovered. 


•\Adolphus  Cyprius  in 
Annal.  Sleswic.  urnis 
adeo  abundabat  collis, 


f  In  Oxfordshire, 
Cambden. 


\In  Cheshire,  Twinus 
de  rebus  Albionicis. 

§/»  Norfolk,  Hollings- 
head. 


CHAPTER  III 


PLAYSTERED  and  whited  Sepulchres  were  an- 
ciently affected  in  cadaverous  and  corruptive  Burials; 
and  the  rigid  Jews  were  wont  to  garnish  the  Sepul- 
chres of  the  righteous.  1 1  Ulysses  in  Hecuba^  cared  not  how 
meanly  he  lived,  so  he  might  finde  a  nobleTomb  after  death. 
Great  Princes  affected  great  Monuments,  and  the  fair  and 
larger  Urnes  contained  no  vulgar  ashes,  which  makes  that 


xxii. 


^Euripides. 


20 


Hydriota/ihia 


disparity  in  those  which  time  discovereth  among  us.  The 
present  Urnes  were  not  of  one  capacity,  the  largest  con- 
taining above  a  gallon,  some  not  much  above  half  that 
measure ;  nor  all  of  one  figure,  wherein  there  is  no  strict 
conformity,  in  the  same  or  different  Countreys;  observ- 
able from  those  represented  by  Casalius,  Bosio,  and  others, 
though  all  found  in  Italy ;  while  many  have  handles,  ears, 
and  long  necks,  but  most  imitate  a  circular  figure,  in  a 
spherical  and  round  composure ;  whether  from  any  mys- 
tery, best  duration  or  capacity,  were  but  a  conjecture.  But 
the  common  form  with  necks  was  a  proper  figure,  making 
our  last  bed  like  our  first;  nor  much  unlike  the  Urnes  of  our 
*psa.  ixiii.  Nativity,  while  we  lay  in  the  nether  part  of  the  earth,*  and 

inward  vault  of  our  Microcosme.  Many  Urnes  are  red, 
these  but  of  a  black  colour,  somewhat  smooth,  and  dully 
sounding,  which  begat  some  doubt,  whether  they  were 
burnt,  or  onely  baked  in  Oven  or  Sun,  according  to  the  an- 
cient way,  in  many  Bricks,  Tiles,  Pots,  and  testaceous  works; 
and  as  the  word  testa  is  properly  to  be  taken,  when  occur- 
ring without  addition,  and  chiefly  intended  by  TUny,  when 
he  commendeth  Bricks  and  Tiles  of  two  years  old,  and  to 
make  them  in  the  spring.  Nor  onely  these  concealed  pieces, 
but  the  open  magnificence  of  Antiquity,  ran  much  in  the 
Artifice  of  Clay.  Hereof  the  house  of  ^JMausolus  was  built, 
thus  old  Jupiter  stood  in  the  Capitol,  and  the  Statua  of  Her- 
cules made  in  the  Reign  of  Tarquinius  'Priscus,  was  extant 
in  Tliny's  dayes.  And  such  as  declined  burning  or  Funeral 
Urnes,  affected  Coffins  of  Clay,  according  to  the  mode  of 


Urne-Buriall 


21 


irov,  ov  rj  oiKOu/uen/  OVK 
Dion. 


Pythagoras,  a  way  preferred  by  Varro.  But  the  spirit  of 
great  ones  was  above  these  circumscriptions,  affecting  Cop- 
per, Silver,  Gold,  and  Porphyrie  Urnes,  wherein  Severus 
lay,  after  a  serious  view  and  sentence  on  that  which  should 
contain  him.*  Some  of  these  Urnes  were  thought  to  have  *x<wr«s  rw  <Sv0po>- 
been  silvered  over,  from  sparklings  in  several  pots,  with 
small  Tinsel  parcels ;  uncertain  whether  from  the  earth,  or 
the  first  mixture  in  them. 

Among  these  Urnes  we  could  obtain  no  good  account  of 
their  coverings  ;  onely  one  seemed  arched  over  with  some 
kinde  of  brickwork.  Of  those  found  at  Buxton  some  were 
covered  with  flints,  some  in  other  parts  with  Tiles,  those 
at  Yarmouth  Caster  were  closed  with  Ttynane  bricks.  And 
some  have  proper  earthen  covers  adapted  and  fitted  to  them. 
But  in  the  Homerical  Urne  of  Tatroclus,  whatever  was  the 
solid  Tegument,  we  finde  the  immediate  covering  to  be  a 
purple  piece  of  silk :  and  such  as  had  no  covers  might  have 
the  earth  closely  pressed  into  them,  after  which  disposure 
were  probably  some  of  these,  wherein  we  found  the  bones 
and  ashes  half  mortered  unto  the  sand  and  sides  of  the  Urne; 
and  some  long  roots  of  Quich,  or  Dogs-grass  wreathed  about 
the  bones. 

No  Lamps,  included  Liquors,  Lachrymatories,  or  Tear- 
Bottles  attended  these  rural  Urnes,  either  as  sacred  unto  the 
Manes,  or  passionate  expressions  of  their  surviving  friends. 
While  with  rich  flames  and  hired  tears  they  solemnized  their 
Obsequies,  and  in  the  most  lamented  Monuments  made  one  ,„  , 

•\Curn  lacrymis  posu- 

part  of  their  Inscriptions. -f  Some  finde  sepulchral  Vessels    ere. 


22 


Hydriotaphia 


*Lazius. 


•\Aboutfive  hundred 
years.   Plato. 

\Vinum  Opiminianum 
annorum  centum. 
Petron. 


§  1 2  Tabul.  i .  xi.  de 
Jure  sacra.  Neve  au- 
rum  adito,  ast  quoiauro 
denies  vincti  erunt,  im 
cum  illo  sepelire  urere, 
sefraude  esto. 


\\Plin.  i.  xvi.  Inter 
£uAa  atraTn)  numeral 
Theophrastus. 


containing  liquors,  which  time  hath  incrassated  into  gellies. 
For  beside  these  Lachrymatories,  notable  Lamps,  with  Ves- 
sels of  Oyles  and  Aromatical  Liquors  attended  noble  Ossua- 
ries. And  some  yet  retaining  a  Vinosity  *  and  spirit  in  them, 
which  if  any  have  tasted  they  have  far  exceeded  the  Palats 
of  Antiquity.  Liquors  not  to  be  computed  by  years  of  an- 
nual Magistrates,  but  by  great  conjunctions  and  the  fatal 
periods  of  Kingdoms. -f  The  draughts  of  Consulary  date, 
were  but  crude  unto  these,  and  Opimian  wine  J  but  in  the 
must  unto  them. 

In  sundry  graves  and  Sepulchres,  we  meet  with  Rings, 
Coynes,  and  Chalices  ;  ancient  frugality  was  so  severe,  that 
they  allowed  no  gold  to  attend  the  Corps,  but  onely  that 
which  served  to  fasten  their  teeth.  §  Whether  the  Opaline 
stone  in  this  Urne  were  burnt  upon  the  finger  of  the  dead, 
or  cast  into  the  fire  by  some  affectionate  friend,  it  will  con- 
sist with  either  custome.  But  other  incinerable  substances 
were  found  so  fresh,  that  they  could  feel  no  singe  from  fire. 
These  upon  view  were  judged  to  be  wood,  but  sinking  in 
water  and  tried  by  the  fire,  we  found  them  to  be  bone  or 
Ivory.  In  their  hardnesse  and  yellow  colour  they  most  re- 
sembled Box,  which  in  old  expressions  found  the  Epithete  || 
of  Eternal,  and  perhaps  in  such  conservatories  might  have 
passed  uncorrupted. 

That  Bay-leaves  were  found  green  in  the  Tomb  of  S. 
Humbert^  after  an  hundred  and  fifty  years,  was  looked 
upon  as  miraculous.  Remarkable  it  was  unto  old  Spectators, 
that  the  Cypresse  of  the  Temple  of  'Diana,  lasted  so  many 


Urne-Buriall 


hundred  years :  the  wood  of  the  Ark  and  Olive  Rod  of 
<±Aaron  were  older  at  the  Captivity.  But  the  Cypresse  of 
the  Ark  of  fHoah,  was  the  greatest  vegetable  Antiquity,  if 
Josephus  were  not  deceived,  by  some  fragments  of  it  in  his 
dayes.  To  omit  the  Moore-logs,  and  Firre-trees  found  un- 
derground in  many  parts  of  England ;  the  undated  ruines 
of  winds,  floods  or  earthquakes  ;  and  which  in  Flanders  still 
shew  from  what  quarter  they  fell,  as  generally  lying  in  the 
North-East  position.* 

But  though  we  found  not  these  pieces  to  be  wood,  accord- 
ing to  first  apprehension,  yet  we  missed  not  altogether  of 
some  woody  substance  ;  for  the  bones  were  not  so  clearly 
picked,  but  some  coals  were  found  amongst  them ;  a  way  to 
make  wood  perpetual,  and  a  fit  associate  for  metal,  whereon 
was  laid  the  foundation  of  the  great  Ephesian  Temple,  and 
which  were  made  the  lasting  tests  of  old  boundaries,  and 
landmarks;  whilest  we  look  on  these  we  admire  not  observ- 
ations of  Coals  found  fresh,  after  four  hundred  years.-f  In 
a  long  deserted  habitation,]]  even  Egge-shells  have  been 
found  fresh,  not  tending  to  corruption. 

In  the  Monument  of  King  Childerick,  the  iron  Reliques 
were  found  all  rusty  and  crumbling  into  pieces.  But  our 
little  iron  pins  which  fastened  the  ivory  works,  held  well  to- 
gether, and  lost  not  their  Magnetical  quality,  though  want- 
ing a  tenacious  moisture  for  the  firmer  union  of  parts,  al- 
though it  be  hardly  drawn  into  fusion,  yet  that  metal  soon 
submitteth  unto  rust  and  dissolution.  In  the  brazen  pieces 
we  admired  not  the  duration  but  the  freedom  from  rust,  and 


*Gorop.   Becanus  in 
Niloscopio. 


•\OfBeringuccio  nella 
pyrotechnia. 

\At  Elmham. 


Hydriotafthia 


*  Sue  ton.  in  vita  Tib. 
Et  in  Amphitheatre 
semiustulandum,  not. 
Casaub. 


ill  favour ;  upon  the  hardest  attrition,  but  now  exposed  unto 
the  piercing  Atomes  of  aire,  in  the  space  of  a  few  moneths, 
they  begin  to  spot  and  betray  their  green  entrals.  We  con- 
ceive not  these  Urnes  to  have  descended  thus  naked  as  they 
appear,  or  to  have  entred  their  graves  without  the  old  habit 
of  flowers.  The  Urne  of  fPhiloparmon  was  so  laden  with 
flowers  and  ribbons,  that  it  afforded  no  sight  of  itself.  The 
rigid  Lycurgus  allowed  Olive  and  Myrtle.  The  ^Athenians 
might  fairely  except  against  the  practice  of  <rDemocritus  to 
be  buried  up  in  honey,  as  fearing  to  embezzle  a  great  com- 
modity of  their  Country,  and  the  best  of  that  kinde  in  Europe. 
ButTfo/0  seemed  too  frugally  politick,  who  allowed  no  larger 
monument  then  would  contain  four  heroick  verses,  and  de- 
signed the  most  barren  ground  for  sepulture ;  though  we 
cannot  commend  the  goodnesse  of  that  sepulchral  ground, 
which  was  set  at  no  higher  rate  than  the  mean  salary  of 
Judas.  Though  the  earth  had  confounded  the  ashes  of  these 
Ossuaries,  yet  the  bones  were  so  smartly  burnt,  that  some 
thin  plates  of  brasse  were  found  half  melted  among  them : 
whereby  we  apprehended  they  were  not  of  the  meanest  car- 
casses, perfunctorily  fired  as  sometimes  in  military,  and  com- 
monly in  pestilence,  burnings ;  or  after  the  manner  of  abject 
corps,  hudled  forth  and  carelesly  burnt,  without  the  Esqui- 
line  Port  at  cRome ;  which  was  an  affront  continued  upon 
Tiberius,  while  they  but  half  burnt  his  body,*  and  in  the  Am- 
phitheater, according  to  the  custome  in  notable  Malefactors; 
whereas  fl{ero  seemed  not  so  much  to  fear  his  death,  as  that 
his  head  should  be  cut  off  and  his  body  not  burnt  entire. 


Urne-Buriall 


Some  finding  many  fragments  of  skulls  in  these  Urnes, 
suspected  a  mixture  of  bones ;  in  none  we  searched  was  there 
cause  of  such  conjecture,  though  sometimes  they  declined 
not  that  practice;  the  ashes  of  'Domitian*  were  mingled 
with  those  of  Julia,  of  (^Achilles  with  those  of  Tatroclus;  all 
Urnes  contained  not  single  ashes ;  without  confused  burn- 
ings they  affectionately  compounded  their  bones  ;  passion- 
ately endeavouring  to  continue  their  living  Unions.  And 
when  distance  of  death  denied  such  conjunctions,  unsatisfied 
affections  conceived  some  satisfaction  to  be  neighbours  in  the 
grave,  to  lye  Urne  by  Urne,  and  touch  but  in  their  names. 
And  many  were  so  curious  to  continue  their  living  relations, 
that  they  contrived  large,  and  family  Urnes,  wherein  the 
Ashes  of  their  nearest  friends  and  kindred  might  succes- 
sively be  received,-f  at  least  some  parcels  thereof, while  their 
collateral  memorials  lay  in  minor  vessels  about  them. 

Antiquity  held  too  light  thoughts  from  Objects  of  mor- 
tality, while  some  drew  provocatives  of  mirth  from  Anato- 
mies, J  and  Jugglers  shewed  tricks  with  Skeletons ;  when 
Fiddlers  made  not  so  pleasant  mirth  as  Fencers,  and  men 
could  sit  with  quiet  stomacks  while  hanging  was  played  be- 
fore them.§  Old  considerations  made  few  mementos  by 
skulls  and  bones  upon  their  monuments.  In  the  Mgyptian 
Obelisks  and  Hieroglyphical  figures,  it  is  not  easie  to  meet 
with  bones.  The  sepulchral  Lamps  speak  nothing  lesse  than 
sepulture ;  and  in  their  literal  draughts  prove  often  obscene 
and  antick  pieces  :  where  we  finde  D.  M.||  it  is  obvious  to 
meet  with  sacrificing  pateras,  and  vessels  of  libation,  upon 


*Sueton.  in  vita  Domi- 
tian. 


^See  the  most  learned 
and  worthy  Mr.  M. 
Casaubon  upon  Anto- 


ninus. 


|  Sic  erimus  cuncti,  &c. 
Ergo  dum  vivimus 
vivamus. 


barbarous  pastime  at 
Feasts,  when  men  stood 
upon  a  rolling  Globe, 
with  their  necks  in  a 
Rope,  and  a  knife  in 
their  hands,  ready  to 
cut  it  when  the  stone 
was  rolled  aw  ay,  where- 
in if  they  failed,  they 
lost  their  lives  to  the 
laughter  of  their  spec- 
tators.  Athenaus. 

||  Diis  manibus. 


Hydriotaphia 


old  sepulchral  monuments.  In  the  Jewish  Hypogaeum*  and 
subterranean  Cell  at  ^Rorne,  was  little  observable  beside 
the  variety  of  Lamps,  and  frequent  draughts  of  the  holy 
Candlestick.  In  authentick  draughts  of(^/fnthony  and  Jerome, 
we  meet  with  thigh-bones  and  death's  heads ;  but  the  cemi- 
teriall  Cells  of  ancient  Christians  and  Martyrs  were  filled 
with  draughts  of  Scripture  Stories ;  not  declining  the  flour- 
ishes of  Cypresse,  Palms,  and  Olive ;  and  the  mystical  Fig- 
ures of  Peacocks,  Doves  and  Cocks ;  but  iterately  affecting 
the  portraits  of  Enoch,  Lazarus,  Jonas,  and  the  vision  of 
Ezechiel,  as  hopeful  draughts,  and  hinting  imagery  of  the 
Resurrection ;  which  is  the  life  of  the  grave,  and  sweetens 
our  habitations  in  the  Land  of  Moles  and  Pismires. 

Gentile  inscriptions  precisely  delivered  the  extent  of 
men's  lives,  seldome  the  manner  of  their  deaths,  which  his- 
tory itself  so  often  leaves  obscure  in  the  records  of  mem- 
orable persons.  There  is  scarce  any  Philosopher  but  dies 
twice  or  thrice  in  Laertius ;  nor  almost  any  life  without  two 
or  three  deaths  in  Tlutarch ;  which  makes  the  tragical  ends 
of  noble  persons  more  favourably  resented  by  compassion- 
ate Readers,  who  finde  some  relief  in  the  Election  of  such 
differences. 

The  certainty  of  death  is  attended  with  uncertainties,  in 
time,  manner,  places.  The  variety  of  Monuments  hath  often 
obscured  true  graves:  and  Caenotaphs  confounded  Sepul- 
chres. For  beside  their  real  Tombs,  many  have  found  hon- 
orary and  empty  sepulchres,  The  variety  of  Homer's  Mon- 
•\Fausan.  in  Attids.  uments  made  him  of  various  Countreys.  Euripides*^  had  his 


Urne-Buriall 


Tomb  in  zSffrica,  but  his  sepulture  in  <*JI4acedonia.  And 
Severus*  found  his  real  Sepulchre  in  f%ome,  but  his  empty 
grave  in  (pallia. 

He  that  lay  in  a  golden  Urne-f  eminently  above  the  earth, 
was  not  like  to  finde  the  quiet  of  these  bones.  Many  of  these 
Urnes  were  broke  by  a  vulgar  discoverer  in  hope  of  en- 
closed treasure.  The  ashes  of^JMarcellus^  were  lost  above 
ground,  upon  the  like  account.  Where  profit  hath  prompted, 
no  age  hath  wanted  such  miners.  For  which  the  most  bar- 
barous Expilators  found  the  most  civil  Rhetorick.  Gold 
once  out  of  the  earth  is  no  more  due  unto  it ;  what  was  un- 
reasonably committed  to  the  ground  is  reasonably  resumed 
from  it;  let  Monuments  and  rich  Fabricks,  not  Riches  adorn 
men's  ashes ;  the  commerce  of  the  living  is  not  to  be  trans- 
ferred unto  the  dead:  it  is  not  injustice  to  take  that  which 
none  complains  to  lose,  and  no  man  is  wronged  where  no 
man  is  possessor. 

What  virtue  yet  sleeps  in  this  terra  damnata  and  aged 
cinders,  were  petty  magick  to  experiment ;  these  crumb- 
ling Reliques  and  long-fired  particles  superannuate  such 
expectations:  bones,  hairs,  nails,  and  teeth  of  the  dead,  were 
the  treasures  of  old  Sorcerers.  In  vain  we  revive  such  prac- 
tices ;  present  superstition  too  visibly  perpetuates  the  folly  of 
our  fore-fathers,  wherein  unto  old§  Observation  this  Island 
was  so  compleat,  that  it  might  have  instructed  Tersia. 

^Plato's  historian  of  the  other  world,  lies  twelve  dayes 
incorrupted,  while  his  soul  was  viewing  the  large  sections 
of  the  dead.  How  to  keep  the  corps  seven  dayes  from  cor- 


*Lamprid.  invit.  Akx- 
and.  Severi. 

•\Trajanus.  Dion. 


\Plut.  in  vit.  Marcelli. 
The  Commission  of  the 
Gothish  King  Theodoric 
for  finding  out  sepul- 
chral treasure.  Cassio- 
dor.  Var.  1.4. 


§  Britannia  hodie  earn 
attonite  celebrat  tantis 
ceremoniis,  ut  dedisse 
Persis  videri possit. 
Plin.  i.  29. 


28 


Hydriotaphia 


*To  be  seen  in  Licet,  de 
reconditis  veterum  lu- 
cernis. 

•\Topographia  Roma  ex 
Martiano.    Erat  et  vas 
ustrinum  appellatum 
quod  in  eo  cadaver  a 
comburerentur.   Cap. 
de  Campo  Esquilino. 


ruption  by  anointing  and  washing,  without  exenteration, 
were  an  hazardable  piece  of  art,  in  our  choisest  practice. 
How  they  made  distinct  separation  of  bones  and  ashes  from 
fiery  admixture,  hath  found  no  historical  solution.  Though 
they  seemed  to  make  a  distinct  collection,  and  overlooked 
not  Tyrrhus  hisi  toe.  Some  provision  they  might  make  by 
fictile  Vessels,  Coverings,  Tiles,  or  flat  stones,  upon  and 
about  the  body.  And  in  the  same  Field,  not  far  from  these 
Urnes,  many  stones  were  found  under  ground,  as  also  by 
careful  separation  of  extraneous  matter,  composing  and 
raking  up  the  burnt  bones  with  forks,  observable  in  that 
notable  lump  of  Cj-aluanus  <*JVLartianus*  who  had  the  sight 
of  the  Vas  Ustrinum, -f  or  vessel  wherein  they  burnt  the 
dead,  found  in  the  Esquiline  Field  at  Ityne,  might  have 
afforded  clearer  solution.  But  their  insatisfaction  herein  be- 
gat that  remarkable  invention  in  the  Funeral  Pyres  of  some 
Princes,  by  incombustible  sheets  made  with  a  texture  of  As- 
bestos, incremable  flax,  or  Salamanders'  wool,  which  pre- 
served their  bones  and  ashes  incommixed. 

How  the  bulk  of  a  man  should  sink  into  so  few  pounds 
of  bones  and  ashes,  may  seem  strange  unto  any  who  con- 
siders not  its  constitution,  and  how  slender  a  mass  will  re- 
main upon  an  open  and  urging  fire  of  the  carnal  composition. 
Even  bones  themselves  reduced  into  ashes,  do  abate  a  nota- 
ble proportion.  And  consisting  much  of  a  volatile  salt,  when 
that  is  fired  out,  make  a  light  kind  of  cinders.  Although 
their  bulk  be  disproportionable  to  their  weight,  when  the 
heavy  principle  of  Salt  is  fired  out,  and  the  Earth  almost 


Urne-Buriall 


onely  remaineth ;  observable  in  sallow,  which  makes  more 
Ashes  than  Oake ;  and  discovers  the  common  fraud  of  sell- 
ing Ashes  by  measure,  and  not  by  ponderation. 

Some  bones  make  best  Skeletons,*  some  bodies  quick  and 
speediest  ashes :  who  would  expect  a  quick  flame  from  Hy- 
dropical  Heraclitus  ?  The  poisoned  Soldier  when  his  Belly 
brake,  put  out  two  pyres  in  'Plutarch.^  But  in  the  plague  of 
oSfthens^  one  private  pyre  served  two  or  three  Intruders ; 
and  the  Saracens  burnt  in  large  heaps,  by  the  King  of  Cas- 
tile,§  shewed  how  little  Fuel  sufficeth.  Though  the  Funeral 
pyre  of  Tatroclus  took  up  an  hundred  foot,||  a  piece  of  an 
old  boat  burnt  'Pompey  ;  And  if  the  burthen  of  Isaac  were 
sufficient  for  an  holocaust,  a  man  may  carry  his  own  pyre. 

From  animals  are  drawn  good  burning  lights,  and  good 
medicines f  against  burning;  though  the  seminal  humor 
seems  of  a  contrary  nature  to  fire,  yet  the  body  compleated 
proves  a  combustible  lump,  wherein  fire  findes  flame  even 
from  bones,  and  some  fuel  almost  from  all  parts.  Though 
the  Metropolis  of  humidity**  seems  least  disposed  unto  it, 
which  might  render  the  skulls  of  these  Urnes  less  burned 
then  other  bones.  But  all  flies  or  sinks  before  fire  almost  in 
all  bodies :  when  the  common  ligament  is  dissolved,  the 
attenuable  parts  ascend,  the  rest  subside  in  coal,  calx  or 
ashes. 

To  burn  the  bones  of  the  King  of  Edom^\-  for  Lyme, 
seems  no  irrational  ferity;  but  to  drink  of  the  ashes  of  dead 
relations,];];  a  passionate  prodigality.  He  that  hath  the  ashes 
of  his  friend,  hath  an  everlasting  treasure :  where  fire  taketh 


*  Old  bones  according  to 
Lyserus.  Those  of  young 
persons  not  tall  nor  fat 
according  to  Columbus. 

•fin  vita.  Grace. 
IThucydides. 
§  Laurent.  Valla. 


rj  tvQa. 


^[Speran.  Alb.  Ovor. 


**The  brain.  Hippo- 
crates. 


II.  I . 


J  \As  Artemisia  of  her 
Husband  Mausolus. 


Hydriotaphia 


leave,  corruption  slowly  enters ;  in  bones  well  burnt,  fire 
makes  a  wall  against  it  self,  experimented  in  copels,  and 
tests  of  metals,  which  consist  of  such  ingredients.  What  the 
Sun  compoundeth,  fire  analyseth,  not  transmuteth.  That 
devouring  agent  leaves  almost  alwayes  a  morsel  for  the 
Earth,  whereof  all  things  are  but  a  colony;  and  which,  if 
time  permits,  the  mother  Element  will  have  in  their  primi- 
tive mass  again. 

He  that  looks  for  Urnes  and  old  sepulchral  Reliques,  must 
not  seek  them  in  the  ruines  of  Temples,  where  no  Religion 
anciently  placed  them.  These  were  found  in  a  Field,  accord- 
ing to  ancient  custome,  in  noble  or  private  burial ;  the  old 
practice  of  the  Canaanites,  the  Family  of  <±A braham,  and  the 
burying  place  of  Joshua,  in  the  borders  of  his  possessions; 
and  also  agreeable  unto  c]$omane  practice  to  bury  by  high- 
wayes, whereby  their  Monuments  were  under  eye:  memo- 
rials of  themselves,  and  mementos  of  mortality  unto  living 
passengers  ;  whom  the  Epitaphs  of  great  ones  were  fain  to 
beg  to  stay  and  look  upon  them.  A  language  though  some- 

*Siste  viator.  times  used,  not  so  proper  in  Church-Inscriptions.*  The  sen- 

sible Rhetorick  of  the  dead,  to  exemplarity  of  good  life,  first 
admitted  the  bones  of  pious  men  and  Martyrs  within  Church- 
walls  ;  which  in  succeeding  ages  crept  into  promiscuous 
practice.  While  Constantine  was  peculiarly  favoured  to  be 
admitted  unto  the  Church  Porch ;  and  the  first  thus  buried 
in  England  was  in  the  dayes  of  Cuthred. 

Christians  dispute  how  their  bodies  should  lye  in  the 

\Kirckmannusdefuner.    grave.-f  In  urnal  interment  they  clearly  escaped  this  Con- 


Urne-Buriall  31 


troversie ;  though  we  decline  the  Religious  consideration, 
yet  in  cemiterial  and  narrower  burying  places,  to  avoid  con- 
fusion and  cross  position,  a  certain  posture  were  to  be  ad- 
mitted ;  which  even  Pagan  civility  observed.  The  Persians 
lay  North  and  South,  the  ^leganans  and  Phoenicians  placed 
their  heads  to  the  East,  theoSTthenians,  some  think,  towards 
the  West,  which  Christians  still  retain.  And  Eeda  will  have 
it  to  be  the  posture  of  our  Saviour.  That  he  was  crucified 
with  his  face  towards  the  West,  we  will  not  contend  with 
tradition  and  probable  account;  but  we  applaud  not  the 
hand  of  the  Painter,  in  exalting  his  Cross  so  high  above  those 
on  either  side;  since  hereof  we  finde  no  authentick  account 
in  history,  and  even  the  crosses  found  by  Helena  pretend  no 
such  distinction  from  longitude  or  dimension. 

To  be  knaved  out  of  our  graves,  to  have  our  skulls  made 
drinking-bowls,  and  our  bones  turned  into  Pipes,  to  delight 
and  sport  our  Enemies,  are  Tragical  abominations,  escaped 
in  burning  Burials. 

Urnal  interments,  and  burnt  Reliques  lye  not  in  fear  of 
worms,  or  to  be  an  heritage  for  Serpents ;  in  carnal  sepul- 
ture, corruptions  seem  peculiar  unto  parts,  and  some  speak 
of  snakes  out  of  the  spinal  marrow.  But  while  we  suppose 
common  wormes  in  graves,  't  is  not  easie  to  finde  any  there; 
few  in  Church-yards  above  a  foot  deep,  fewer  or  none  in 
Churches,  though  in  fresh  decayed  bodies.  Teeth,  bones, 
and  hair,  give  the  most  lasting  defiance  to  corruption.  In 
an  Hydropical  body  ten  years  buried  in  a  Church  yard,  we 
met  with  a  fat  concretion,  where  the  nitre  of  the  Earth,  and 


Hydriotaphia 


*  Of  Thomas  Marquesse 
of  Dorset,  whose  body 
being  buried  1530  was 
1 608,  upon  the  cutting 
open  of  the  Cerecloth, 
found  perfect  and  no- 
thing corrupted,  the  flesh 
not  hardened,  but  in 
colour,  proportion,  and 
softnesse  like  an  ordi- 
nary corps  newly  to  be 
interred.  Burton* s  de- 
script,  of  Leicestershire. 

•\In  his  Map  of  Russia. 


the  salt  and  lixivious  liquor  of  the  body,  had  coagulated 
large  lumps  of  fat  into  the  consistence  of  the  hardest  Cas- 
tile-soap; whereof  part  remaineth  with  us.  After  a  battle 
with  the  Tertians,  the  <T(omane  Corps  decayed  in  few  dayes, 
while  the  ^Persian  bodies  remained  dry  and  uncorrupted. 
Bodies  in  the  same  ground  do  not  uniformly  dissolve,  nor 
bones  equally  moulder ;  whereof  in  the  opprobrious  disease 
we  expect  no  long  duration.  The  body  of  the  Marquess 
of  Ttorset  seemed  sound  and  handsomely  cereclothed,  that 
after  seventy  eight  years  was  found  uncorrupted.*  Common 
Tombs  preserve  not  beyond  powder :  a  firmer  consistence 
and  compage  of  parts  might  be  expected  from  Arefaction, 
deep  burial  or  Charcoal.  The  greatest  Antiquities  of  mortal 
bodies  may  remain  in  petrified  bones,  whereof,  though  we 
take  not  in  the  pillar  of  Lot 's  wife,  or  Metamorphosis  of 
Ortelius^  some  may  be  older  than  Pyramids,  in  the  petri- 
fied Reliques  of  the  general  inundation.  When  <i/flexander 
opened  the  Tomb  of  Cyrus,  the  remaining  bones  discovered 
his  proportion,  whereof  urnal  fragments  afford  but  a  bad 
conjecture,  and  have  this  disadvantage  of  grave  interments, 
that  they  leave  us  ignorant  of  most  personal  discoveries. 
For  since  bones  afford  not  only  rectitude  and  stability,  but 
figure  unto  the  body,  it  is  no  impossible  Physiognomy  to 
conjecture  at  fleshly  appendencies,  and  after  what  shape 
the  muscles  and  carnous  parts  might  hang  in  their  full  con- 
sistences. A  full  spread  Cariola  shows  a  well-shaped  horse 
behinde ;  handsome  formed  skulls  give  some  analogy  of 
flesh  resemblance.  A  critical  view  of  bones  makes  a  good 


Urne-Buriall 


33 


distinction  of  sexes.  Even  colour  is  not  beyond  conjecture 
since  it  is  hard  to  be  deceived  in  the  distinction  of  Negro(e)'s 
skulls.  'Dante's  Characters*  are  to  be  found  in  skulls  as 
well  as  faces.  Hercules  is  not  onely  known  by  his  foot.  Other 
parts  make  out  their  comproportions,  and  inferences  upon 
whole,  or  parts.  And  since  the  dimensions  of  the  head  meas- 
ure the  whole  body,  and  the  figure  thereof  gives  conjecture 
of  the  principal  faculties,  Physiognomy  out-lives  our  selves, 
and  ends  not  in  our  graves. 

Severe  contemplators  observing  these  lasting  reliques, 
may  think  them  good  monuments  of  persons  past,  little  ad- 
vantage to  future  beings ;  and  considering  that  power  which 
subdueth  all  things  unto  it  self,  that  can  resume  the  scattered 
Atomes,or  identifie  out  of  any  thing,  conceive  it  superfluous 
to  expect  a  resurrection  out  of  Reliques.  But  the  soul  sub- 
sisting, other  matter  clothed  with  due  accidents  may  solve 
the  individuality :  yet  the  Saints  we  observe  arose  from 
graves  and  monuments,  about  the  holy  City.  Some  think 
the  ancient  Patriarchs  so  earnestly  desired  to  lay  their  bones 
in  Canaan,  as  hoping  to  make  a  part  of  that  Resurrection, 
and  though  thirty  miles  from  Mount  Calvary,  at  least  to  lie 
in  that  Region,  which  should  produce  the  first-fruits  of  the 
dead.  And  if  according  to  learned  conjecture,  the  bodies  of 
men  shall  rise  where  their  greatest  Reliques  remain,  many 
are  not  like  to  erre  in  the  Topography  of  their  Resurrection, 
though  their  bones  or  bodies  be  after  translated  by  Angels 
into  the  field  of  Ezechiel's  vision,  or  as  some  will  order  it, 
into  the  Valley  of  Judgement,  or  Jehosaphat.-\ 


*The Poet  Dante  in  his 
view  ofPurgatory,found 
gluttons  so  meagre,  and 
extenuated,  that  he  con- 
ceived them  to  have  been 
in  the  Siege  of  Jeru- 
salem, and  that  it  was 
easie  to  have  discovered 
Homo  or  Omo  in  their 
faces :  M  being  made 
by  the  two  lines  of  their 
cheeks,  arching  over  the 
Eye-brows  to  the  nose, 
and  their  sunk  eyes  mak- 
ing O  O  which  makes 
up  Omo. 
Par  en  Focchiaje  anella 

senza  gemme : 
Chi,  nel  visa  degli  uom- 

ini legge  OMO, 
Bene  avria  quivi  cono- 

sciutofemme. 


\Tirin.  in  Ezek. 


Hydriotajihia 


CHAPTER  IV 


*Rituale  Graeum, 
opera  J.  Goar  in  officio 
exequiarum. 

•\Similis  reviviscendi 
promissa  Democrito 
vanitas,  qui  non  revixit 
ipse.  Quae,  malum,  sta 
dimentia  est  ,•  iterari 
vitam  morte.   Plin.  \  . 
T.C.  55. 

jKeu  Ta^a  8'  «K  you'^s 


evwv  et  deinceps. 

§  Cedit  enim  retro  de 
terra  quod  fuit  ante 
In  Terram,  &c.  Lu- 
cret. 


CHRISTIANS  have  handsomely  glossed  the  de- 
formity of  death,  by  careful  consideration  of  the 
body,  and  civil  rites  which  take  off  brutal  termina- 
tions. And  though  they  conceived  all  reparable  by  a  resur- 
rection, cast  not  off  all  care  of  interment.  And  since  the 
ashes  of  Sacrifices  burnt  upon  the  Altar  of  God  were  care- 
fully carried  out  by  the  Priests,  and  deposed  in  a  clean  field; 
since  they  acknowledged  their  bodies  to  be  the  lodging  of 
Christ,  and  temples  of  the  holy  Ghost,  they  devolved  not 
all  upon  the  sufficiency  of  soul  existence;  and  therefore  with 
long  services  and  full  solemnities  concluded  their  last  Exe- 
quies, wherein*  to  all  distinctions  the  (jreek  devotion  seems 
most  pathetically  ceremonious. 

Christian  invention  hath  chiefly  driven  at  Rites  which 
speak  hopes  of  another  life,  and  hints  of  a  Resurrection. 
And  if  the  ancient  (gentiles  held  not  the  immortality  of 
their  better  part,  and  some  subsistence  after  death,  in  sev- 
eral rites,  customes,  actions  and  expressions,  they  contra- 
dicted their  own  opinions  :  wherein  'Democritus  went  high, 
even  to  the  thought  of  a  resurrection,^  as  scoffingly  re- 
corded by  'Tliny.  What  can  be  more  express  than  the 
expression  of  Thocy  Hides  ?%  Or  who  would  expect  from 
Lucretius  §  a  sentence  of  Ecclesiastes?  Before  'Plato  could 


Urne-Buriall  35 


speak,  the  soul  had  wings  in  Homer,  which  fell  not,  but  flew 
out  of  the  body  unto  the  mansions  of  the  dead;  who  also 
observed  that  handsome  distinction  of  Demas  and  Sema,  for 
the  body  conjoyned  to  the  soul  and  body  separated  from  it. 
Lucian  spoke  much  truth  in  jest,  when  he  said,  that  part 
of  Hercules  which  proceeded  from  <^/flcmena  perished,  that 
from  Jupiter  remained  immortal.  Thus*  Socrates  was  con-  *pjato  in 
tent  that  his  friends  should  bury  his  body,  so  they  would 
not  think  they  buried  Socrates,  and  regarding  onely  his  im- 
mortal part,  was  indifferent  to  be  burnt  or  buried.  From 
such  Considerations  'Diogenes  might  contemn  Sepulture. 
And  being  satisfied  that  the  soul  could  not  perish,  grow 
careless  of  corporal  interment.  The  Stoicks  who  thought 
the  souls  of  wise  men  had  their  habitation  about  the  Moon, 
might  make  slight  account  of  subterraneous  deposition; 
whereas  the  Pythagoreans  and  transcorporating  Philoso- 
phers, who  were  to  be  often  buried,  held  great  care  of  their 
interment.  And  the  Tlatonicks  rejected  not  a  due  care  of  the 
grave,  though  they  put  their  ashes  to  unreasonable  expect- 
ations, in  their  tedious  term  of  return  and  long  set  revolu- 
tion. 

Men  have  lost  their  reason  in  nothing  so  much  as  their 
Religion,  wherein  stones  and  clouts  make  Martyrs;  and 
since  the  Religion  of  one  seems  madness  unto  another,  to 
afford  an  account  or  rational  of  old  Rites  requires  no  rigid 
Reader;  that  they  kindled  the  pyre  aversely,  or  turning 
their  face  from  it,  was  an  handsome  Symbole  of  unwilling 
ministration ;  that  they  washed  their  bones  with  wine  and 


Hydriotaphia 


milk,  that  the  mother  wrapt  them  in  Linnen,  and  dryed 
them  in  her  bosome,  the  first  fostering  part,  and  place  of 
their  nourishment;  that  they  opened  their  eyes  towards 
heaven,  before  they  kindled  the  fire,  as  the  place  of  their 
hopes  or  original,  were  no  improper  Ceremonies.  Their 
?,  vale,  vale,  nos     last  valediction  *  thrice  uttered  by  the  attendants  was  also 
te  ordine  quo  natura        verv  solemn  and  somewhat  answered  by  Christians,  who 

permit  tet  sequamur.  ..  v    i       -r    i  i  i  i      i     • 

thought  it  too  little,  if  they  threw  not  the  earth  thrice  upon 
the  interred  body.  That  in  strewing  their  Tombs  the  Tfg- 
manes  affected  the  Rose,  the  (greeks  Amaranthus  and  Myr- 
tle ;  that  the  Funeral  pyre  consisted  of  sweet  fuel,  Cypress, 
Firre,  Larix,  Yewe,  and  Trees  perpetually  verdant,  lay 
silent  expressions  of  their  surviving  hopes :  wherein  Chris- 
tians which  deck  their  Coffins  with  Bays  have  found  a  more 
elegant  Embleme.  For  that  tree  seeming  dead,  will  restore 
it  self  from  the  root,  and  its  dry  and  exsuccous  leaves  re- 
sume their  verdure  again;  which  if  we  mistake  not,  we  have 
also  observed  in  Furze.  Whether  the  planting  of  Yewe  in 
Church-yards,  hold  not  its  original  from  ancient  Funeral 
Rites,  or  as  an  Embleme  of  Resurrection  from  its  perpetual 
verdure,  may  also  admit  conjecture. 

They  made  use  of  Musick  to  excite  or  quiet  the  affec- 
tions of  their  friends,  according  to  different  harmonies.  But 
the  secret  and  symbolical  hint  was  the  harmonical  nature 
of  the  soul ;  which  delivered  from  the  body  went  again  to 
enjoy  the  primitive  harmony  of  heaven,  from  whence  it  first 
descended ;  which  according  to  its  progresse  traced  by  an- 
tiquity, came  down  by  Cancer •,  and  ascended  by  Capricornus. 


Urne-Buriall 


37 


They  burnt  not  children  before  their  teeth  appeared,  as 
apprehending  their  bodies  too  tender  a  morsel  for  fire,  and 
that  their  gristly  bones  would  scarce  leave  separable  re- 
liques  after  the  pyral  combustion.  That  they  kindled  not  fire 
in  their  houses  for  some  dayes  after,  was  a  strict  memorial 
of  the  late  afflicting  fire.  And  mourning  without  hope,  they 
had  an  happy  fraud  against  excessive  lamentation,  by  a 
common  opinion  that  deep  sorrows  disturbed  their  ghosts.*  *Tu  manes  ne  lade 

That  they  buried  their  dead  on  their  backs,  or  in  a  su- 
pine position,  seems  agreeable  unto  profound  sleep,  and 
common  posture  of  dying ;  contrary  to  the  most  natural  way 
of  birth ;  nor  unlike  our  pendulous  posture,  in  the  doubtful 
state  of  the  womb.  ^Diogenes  was  singular,  who  preferred 
a  prone  situation  in  the  grave,  and  some  Christians  -f  like  -^Russians,  wv. 
neither,  who  declined  the  figure  of  rest,  and  make  choice 
of  an  erect  posture. 

That  they  carried  them  out  of  the  world  with  their  feet 
forward,  not  inconsonant  unto  reason :  as  contrary  unto  the 
native  posture  of  man,  and  his  production  first  into  it.  And 
also  agreeable  unto  their  opinions,  while  they  bid  adieu 
unto  the  world,  not  to  look  again  upon  it ;  whereas  (^Ma- 
hometans who  think  to  return  to  a  delightful  life  again,  are 
carried  forth  with  their  heads  forward,  and  looking  towards 
their  houses. 

They  closed  their  eyes  as  parts  which  first  die  or  first 
discover  the  sad  effects  of  death.  But  their  iterated  clama- 
tions  to  excitate  their  dying  or  dead  friends,  or  revoke  them 
unto  life  again,  was  a  vanity  of  affection ;  as  not  presum- 


Hydriotafihia 


ably  ignorant  of  the  critical  tests  of  death,  by  apposition  of 
feathers,  glasses,  and  reflexion  of  figures,  which  dead  eyes 
represent  not,  which  however  not  strictly  verifiable  in  fresh 
and  warm  cadavers,  could  hardly  elude  the  test  in  corps  of 
four  or  five  dayes. 

That  they  sucked  in  the  last  breath  of  their  expiring 

friends,  was  surely  a  practice  of  no  medical  institution,  but 

a  loose  opinion  that  the  soul  passed  out  that  way,  and  a 

*Francesco  Perucd.        fondnesse  of  affection  from  some  *  Tythagorical  foundation, 

Pompefunebri.  ^^  ^  ^^  of  Qne  ^^  passed  into  another  ;  which  they 

wished  might  be  their  own. 

That  they  poured  oyle  upon  the  pyre,  was  a  tolerable 
practice,  while  the  intention  rested  in  facilitating  the  accen- 
sion  ;  but  to  place  good  Omens  in  the  quick  and  speedy 
burning,  to  sacrifice  unto  the  winds  for  a  dispatch  in  this 
office,  was  a  low  form  of  superstition. 

The  Archimime  or  Jester  attending  the  Funeral  train, 
and  imitating  the  speeches,  gesture,  and  manners  of  the  de- 
ceased, was  too  light  for  such  solemnities,  contradicting 
their  funeral  Orations,  and  doleful  rites  of  the  grave. 

That  they  buried  a  piece  of  money  with  them  as  a  Fee  of 
the  Elysian  Ferryman,  was  a  practice  full  of  folly.  But  the 
ancient  custome  of  placing  coynes  in  considerable  Urnes, 
and  the  present  practice  of  burying  medals  in  the  Noble 
Foundations  of  Europe,  are  laudable  wayes  of  historical  dis- 
coveries, in  actions,  persons,  Chronologies  ;  and  posterity 
will  applaud  them. 

We  examine  not  the  old  laws  of  Sepulture,  exempting 


Urne-Buriall 


39 


certain  persons  from  burial  or  burning.  But  hereby  we  ap- 
prehend that  these  were  not  the  bones  of  persons  Planet- 
struck  or  burnt  with  fire  from  Heaven:  no  Reliques  of 
Traitors  to  their  countrey,  Self-killers,  or  Sacrilegious  Male- 
factors; persons  in  old  apprehension  unworthy  of  the  earth; 
condemned  unto  the  Tartarus  of  Hell,  and  bottomlesse  pit 
of  Tluto,  from  whence  there  was  no  redemption. 

Nor  were  onely  many  customes  questionable  in  order  to 
their  Obsequies,  but  also  sundry  practices,  fictions,  and 
conceptions,  discordant  or  obscure,  of  their  state  and  future 
beings ;  whether  unto  eight  or  ten  bodies  of  men  to  adde  one 
of  a  woman,  as  being  more  inflammable,  and  unctuously 
constituted  for  the  better  pyral  combustion,  were  any  ra- 
tional practice :  or  whether  the  complaint  of  'Periander's 
Wife  be  tolerable,  that  wanting  her  funeral  burning  she  suf- 
fered intolerable  cold  in  Hell,  according  to  the  constitution 
of  the  infernal  house  of  Tluto,  wherein  cold  makes  a  great 
part  of  their  tortures,  it  cannot  passe  without  some  question. 

Why  the  Female  Ghosts  appear  unto  Ulysses,  before 
the  Heroes  and  masculine  spirits ;  why  the  Pysche  or  soul 
of  Tiresias  is  of  the  masculine  gender;  *  who  being  blinde    *In  Homer. 
on  earth  sees  more  than  all  the  rest  in  hell;  why  the  Fune-    /fcuov T«pe<nao  O-K^T- 
ral  Suppers  consisted  of  Egges,  Beans,  Smallage,  and  Let-    Tpov  6XWV' 
tuce,  since  the  dead  are  made  to  eat  Asphodels  -f  about  the    -j-/»  L*CU*. 
Elysian  meadows ;  why,  since  there  is  no  Sacrifice  accept- 
able, nor  any  propitiation  for  the  Covenant  of  the  grave, 
men  set  up  the  Diety  of  (J/J4orta,  and  fruitlessly  adored 
Divinities  without  ears,  it  cannot  escape  some  doubt. 


40  Hydriotaphia 

The  dead  seem  all  alive  in  the  humane  Hades  of  Homer, 
yet  cannot  we  speak,  prophesie,  or  know  the  living,  except 
they  drink  blood,  wherein  is  the  life  of  man.  And  therefore 
the  soules  ofTenelope's  Paramours  conducted  bj(>JMercury 
chirped  like  bats,  and  those  which  followed  Hercules  made 
a  noise  but  like  a  flock  of  birds. 

The  departed  spirits  know  things  past  and  to  come,  yet 
are  ignorant  of  things  present.  Agamemnon  foretells  what 
should  happen  unto  Ulysses,  yet  ignorantly  inquires  what  is 
to  become  of  his  own  Son.  The  ghosts  are  afraid  of  swords 
in  Homer,  yet  SyUlla  tells  Mneas  in  Virgil,  the  thin  habit 
of  spirits  was  beyond  the  force  of  weapons.  The  spirits  put 
off  their  malice  with  their  bodies,  and  Ctesar  and  Tompey 
accord  in  Latine  Hell,  yet  ^Ajax  in  Homer  endures  not  a 
conference  with  Ulysses :  and  'Deiphobus  appears  all  man- 
gled in  Virgil's  Ghosts,  yet  we  meet  with  perfect  shadows 
among  the  wounded  ghosts  of  Homer. 

Since  Charon  in  Lucian  applauds  his  condition  among  the 
dead,  whether  it  be  handsomely  said  of  ^Achilles,  that  living 
contemner  of  death,  that  he  had  rather  be  a  plowman's 
servant  than  Emperour  of  the  dead  ?  How  Hercules  his 
soul  is  in  hell,  and  yet  in  heaven,  and  Julius  his  soul  in  a 
Star,  yet  seen  byJEneas  in  hell? — except  the  Ghosts  were 
but  images  and  shadows  of  the  soul,  received  in  higher 
mansions,  according  to  the  ancient  division  of  body,  soul, 
and  image  or  simulacrum  of  them  both.  The  particulars  of 
future  beings  must  needs  be  dark  unto  ancient  Theories, 
which  Christian  Philosophy  yet  determines  but  in  a  Cloud 


Urne-Buriall  41 


of  Opinions.  A  Dialogue  between  two  Infants  in  the  womb 
concerning  the  state  of  this  world,  might  handsomely  illus- 
trate our  ignorance  of  the  next,  whereof  methinks  we  yet 
discourse  in  Tlato's  den,  and  are  but  Embryon  Philoso- 
phers. 

^Pythagoras  escapes  in  the  fabulous  hell  of  'Dante*  among  *Dei  inferno,  cant.  4. 
that  swarm  of  Philosophers,  wherein  whilest  we  meet  with 
'Plato  and  Socrates,  Cato  is  to  be  found  in  no  lower  place 
than  Purgatory.  Among  all  the  set,  Epicurus  is  most  con- 
siderable, whom  men  make  honest  without  an  Elysium,w\\o 
contemned  life  without  encouragement  of  immortality,  and 
making  nothing  after  death,  yet  made  nothing  of  the  King 
of  terrours. 

Were  the  happinesse  of  the  next  world  as  closely  appre- 
hended as  the  felicities  of  this,  it  were  a  martyrdome  to  live; 
and  unto  such  as  consider  none  hereafter,  it  must  be  more 
than  death  to  die,  which  makes  us  amazed  at  those  audaci- 
ties, that  durst  be  nothing,  and  return  into  their  Chaos 
again.  Certainly  such  spirits  as  could  contemn  death,  when 
they  expected  no  better  being  after,  would  have  scorned  to 
live  had  they  known  any.  And  therefore  we  applaud  not 
the  judgement  of  (^Machiavel,  that  Christianity  makes  men 
cowards,  or  that  with  the  confidence  of  but  half  dying,  the 
despised  virtues  of  patience  and  humility  have  abased  the 
spirits  of  men,  which  Pagan  principles  exalted,  but  rather 
regulated  the  wildnesse  of  audacities,  in  the  attempts, 
grounds,  and  eternal  sequels  of  death,  wherein  men  of  the 
boldest  spirits  are  often  prodigiously  temerarious.  Nor  can 


42  Hydriotafihia 

we  extenuate  the  valour  of  ancient  Martyrs,  who  con- 
temned death  in  the  uncomfortable  scene  of  their  lives,  and 
in  their  decrepit  Martyrdomes  did  probably  lose  not  many 
moneths  of  their  dayes,  or  parted  with  life  when  it  was 
scarce  worth  the  living.  For  (beside  that  long  time  past 
holds  no  consideration  unto  a  slender  time  to  come)  they 
had  no  small  disadvantage  from  the  constitution  of  old  age, 
which  naturally  makes  men  fearful ;  arid  complexionally 
superannuated  from  the  bold  and  courageous  thoughts  of 
youth  and  fervent  years.  But  the  contempt  of  death  from 
corporal  animosity  promoteth  not  our  felicity.  They  may 
sit  in  the  Orchestra,  and  noblest  Seats  of  Heaven,  who  have 
held  up  shaking  hands  in  the  fire,  and  humanely  contended 
for  glory. 

Mean  while  Epicurus  lies  deep  in  T> ante's  hell,  wherein 
we  meet  with  Tombs  enclosing  souls  which  denied  their 
immortalities.  But  whether  the  virtuous  heathen,  who  lived 
better  than  he  spake,  or  erring  in  the  principles  of  himself, 
yet  lived  above  Philosophers  of  more  specious  Maximes,  lie 
so  deep  as  he  is  placed ;  at  least  so  low  as  not  to  rise  against 
Christians,  who,  believing  or  knowing  that  truth,  have  last- 
ingly denied  it  in  their  practice  and  conversation,  were  a 
quasry  too  sad  to  insist  on. 

But  all  or  most  apprehensions  rested  in  Opinions  of  some 
future  being,  which,  ignorantly  or  coldly  believed,  beget 
those  perverted  Conceptions,  Ceremonies,  Sayings,  which 
Christians  pity  or  laugh  at.  Happy  are  they,  which  live  not 
in  that  disadvantage  of  time,  when  men  could  say  little  for 


Urne-Buriall  43 


futurity,  but  from  reason.  Whereby  the  noblest  mindes 
fell  often  upon  doubtful  deaths,  and  melancholy  Dissolu- 
tions ;  with  these  hopes  Socrates  warmed  his  doubtful  spirits 
against  that  cold  potion,  and  Cato  before  he  durst  give  the 
fatal  stroke,  spent  part  of  the  night  in  reading  the  immor- 
tality of  Tlato,  thereby  confirming  his  wavering  hand  unto 
the  animosity  of  that  attempt. 

It  is  the  heaviest  stone  that  melancholy  can  throw  at  a 
man,  to  tell  him  he  is  at  the  end  of  his  nature;  or  that  there 
is  no  further  state  to  come,  unto  which  this  seems  progres- 
sional,  and  otherwise  made  in  vain;  without  this  accom- 
plishment the  natural  expectation  and  desire  of  such  a  state 
were  but  a  fallacy  in  nature ;  unsatisfied  Considerators 
would  quarrel  the  justice  of  their  constitutions,  and  rest 
content  that  <^dam  had  fallen  lower,  whereby  by  know- 
ing no  other  Original,  and  deeper  ignorance  of  themselves, 
they  might  have  enjoyed  the  happinesse  of  inferiour  Creat- 
ures who  in  tranquillity  possess  their  constitutions,  as  hav- 
ing not  the  apprehension  to  deplore  their  own  natures;  and 
being  framed  below  the  circumference  of  these  hopes,  or 
cognition  of  better  being,  the  wisdom  of  God  hath  necessi- 
tated their  contentment :  but  the  superiour  ingredient  and 
obscured  part  of  our  selves,  whereunto  all  present  felicities 
afford  no  resting  contentment,  will  be  able  at  last  to  tell  us 
we  are  more  than  our  present  selves,  and  evacuate  such 
hopes  in  the  fruition  of  their  own  accomplishments. 


44 


Hydriotafihia 


CHAPTER  V 


*Tibullui. 


•\Oracula  Chaldaica 
cum  scholiis  Psetii 
et  Phethonis. 
ffir)  Xar6vT<av  crw/ia 
\f/v)(a.l  Ka.6apwrra.rai. 
Vi  corpus  relin- 
quentium  anim<e 
purissimce. 


NOW  since  these  dead  bones  have  already  out- 
lasted the  living  ones  of  <*JVLeihuselaht  and  in  a 
yard  under  ground,  and  thin  walls  of  clay,  out 
worn  all  the  strong  and  specious  buildings  above  it,  and 
quietly  rested  under  the  drums  and  tramplings  of  three 
conquests,  what  Prince  can  promise  such  diuturnity  unto 
his  Reliques,  or  might  not  gladly  say, 

Sic  ego  componi  versus  in  ossa  velim* 
Time  which  antiquates  Antiquities,  and  hath  an  art  to  make 
dust  of  all  things,  hath  yet  spared  these  minor  monuments. 
In  vain  we  hope  to  be  known  by  open  and  visible  conserva- 
tories, when  to  be  unknown  was  the  means  of  their  con- 
tinuation and  obscurity  their  protection ;  if  they  dyed  by 
violent  hand,  and  were  thrust  into  their  Urnes,  these  bones 
become  considerable,  and  some  old  philosophers  would 
honour  them,-f  whose  souls  they  conceived  most  pure,  which 
were  thus  snatched  from  their  bodies ;  and  to  retain  a 
stronger  propension  unto  them :  whereas  they  weariedly 
left  a  languishing  corps,  and  with  faint  desires  of  re-union. 
If  they  fell  by  long  and  aged  decay,  yet  wrapt  up  in  the 
bundle  of  time,  they  fell  into  indistinction,  and  make  but 
one  blot  with  infants.  If  we  begin  to  die  when  we  live,  and 
long  life  be  but  a  prolongation  of  death,  our  life  is  a  sad 


Urne-Buriall 


45 


composition ;  we  live  with  death,  and  die  not  in  a  moment. 
How  many  pulses  made  up  the  life  of  tJWethuselah,  were 
work  for  (Archimedes :  Common  Counters  sum  up  the  life 
of  dJWoses  his  name.*  Our  dayes  become  considerable  like 
petty  sums  by  minute  accumulations ;  where  numerous  frac- 
tions make  up  but  small  round  numbers ;  and  our  dayes  of 
a  span  long  make  not  one  little  finger.'f 

If  the  nearnesse  of  our  last  necessity,  brought  a  nearer 
conformity  unto  it,  there  were  a  happinesse  in  hoary  hairs, 
and  no  calamity  in  half  senses.  But  the  long  habit  of  living 
indisposeth  us  for  dying,  when  Avarice  makes  us  the  sport 
of  death,  when  'David  grew  politickly  cruel,  and  Solomon 
could  hardly  be  said  to  be  the  wisest  of  men.  But  many  are 
too  early  old,  and  before  the  date  of  age.  Adversity  stretch- 
eth  our  dayes,  misery  makes  <±/[lcmena's  nights,];  and  time 
hath  no  wings  unto  it.  But  the  most  tedious  being  is  that 
which  can  unwish  it  self,  content  to  be  nothing,  or  never 
to  have  been,  which  was  beyond  the  mal-content  of  Job, 
who  cursed  not  the  day  of  his  life,  but  his  nativity,  content 
to  have  so  far  been,  as  to  have  a  title  to  future  being, 
although  he  had  lived  here  but  in  an  hidden  state  of  life, 
and  as  it  were  an  abortion. 

What  Song  the  Syrens  sang,  or  what  name  ^Achilles  as- 
sumed when  he  hid  himself  among  women,  though  puzzling 
questions,  §  are  not  beyond  all  conjecture.  What  time  the 
persons  of  these  Ossuaries  entered  the  famous  Nations  of 
the  dead,  1 1  and  slept  with  Princes  and  Counsellors,  might 
admit  a  wide  solution.  But  who  were  the  proprietaries  of 


*/»  the  Psalme  of 
Moses. 


^According  to  the 
ancient  Arithmetick 
of  the  hand  wherein 
the  little  finger  of 
the  right  hand 
contracted,  signified 
an  hundred. 

Pier  us  in 
Hieroglyph. 


\  One  night  as  long  as 
three. 


§The  puzzling  ques- 
tions of  Tiberius  unto 
Grammarians  Marcel. 
Donatus  in  Suet. 

(jKXvra  cOvca  venpiav. 


Hydriotaphia 


*That  the  world  may 
last  but  six  thousand 
years. 

f  Hector's  fame  lasting 
above  two  lives  of  Me- 
thuselah, before  that 
famous  Prince  was  ex- 
tant. 


these  bones,  or  what  bodies  these  ashes  made  up,  were  a 
question  above  Antiquarism,  not  to  be  resolved  by  man,  nor 
easily  perhaps  by  spirits,  except  we  consult  the  Provincial 
Guardians,  or  tutelary  observators.  Had  they  made  as  good 
provisions  for  their  names,  as  they  have  done  for  their 
Reliques,  they  had  not  so  grossly  erred  in  the  art  of  per- 
petuation. But  to  subsist  in  bones,  and  be  but  Pyramidally 
extant,  is  a  fallacy  in  duration.  Vain  ashes,  which  in  the  ob- 
livion of  names,  persons,  times,  and  sexes,  have  found  unto 
themselves  a  fruitlesse  continuation,  and  onely  arise  unto 
late  posterity,  as  Emblemes  of  mortal  vanities,  antidotes 
against  pride,  vainglory,  and  madding  vices.  Pagan  vain- 
glories, which  thought  the  world  might  last  for  ever,  had 
encouragement  for  ambition,  and  finding  no  o^/ftropos  unto 
the  immortality  of  their  names,  were  never  dampt  with  the 
necessity  of  oblivion.  Even  old  ambitions  had  the  advantage 
of  ours,  in  the  attempts  of  their  vainglories,  who  acting 
early,  and  before  the  probable  Meridian  of  time,  have  by 
this  time  found  great  accomplishment  of  their  designes, 
whereby  the  ancient  Heroes  have  already  outlasted  their 
Monuments  and  Mechanical  preservations.  But  in  this  lat- 
ter Scene  of  time  we  cannot  expect  such  Mummies  unto 
our  memories,  when  ambition  may  fear  the  Prophecy  of 
Elias*  and  Charles  the  first  can  never  hope  to  live  within 
two  (^Methuselah*  s  of  Hector.-^- 

And  therefore  restlesse  inquietude  for  the  diuturnity  of 
our  memories  unto  present  considerations,  seemes  a  vanity 
almost  out  of  date,  and  superannuated  piece  of  folly.  We 


Urne-Buriall 


47 


cannot  hope  to  live  so  long  in  our  names,  as  some  have  done 
in  their  persons ;  one  face  of  Janus  holds  no  proportion  to 
the  other.  'T  is  too  late  to  be  ambitious.  The  great  muta- 
tions of  the  world  are  acted,  or  time  may  be  too  short  for 
our  designes.  To  extend  our  memories  by  Monuments, 
whose  death  we  dayly  pray  for,  and  whose  duration  we  can- 
not hope,  without  injury  to  our  expectations,  in  the  advent 
of  the  last  day,  were  a  contradiction  to  our  beliefs.  We 
whose  generations  are  ordained  in  this  setting  part  of  time, 
are  providentially  taken  off  from  such  imaginations.  And 
being  necessitated  to  eye  the  remaining  particle  of  futurity, 
are  naturally  constituted  unto  thoughts  of  the  next  world, 
and  cannot  excusably  decline  the  consideration  of  that  dura- 
tion, which  maketh  Pyramids  pillars  of  snow,  and  all  that 's 
past  a  moment. 

Circles  and  right  lines  limit  and  close  all  bodies,  and  the 
mortal  right-lined-circle  *  must  conclude  and  shut  up  all. 
There  is  no  antidote  against  the  Opium  of  time,  which  tem- 
porally considereth  all  things ;  our  fathers  finde  their  graves 
in  our  short  memories,  and  sadly  tell  how  we  may  be  buried 
in  our  Survivors.  Grave-stones  tell  truth  scarce  fourty 
years :  -f-  Generations  passe  while  some  trees  stand,  and  old 
Families  last  not  three  Oakes.  To  be  read  by  bare  inscrip- 
tions like  many  in  Qrutery\  to  hope  for  Eternity  by  Enig- 
matical Epithetes,  or  first  letters  of  our  names,  to  be  studied 
by  Antiquaries,  who  we  were,  and  have  new  Names  given 
us  like  many  of  the  Mummies,  are  cold  consolations  unto 
the  Students  of  perpetuity,  even  by  everlasting  Languages. 


*The  character  of 
death. 


•}•  Old  ones  being  taken 
up,  and  other  bodies  laid 
under  them. 

J  Gr -uteri  Inscriptiones 
Antique. 


Hydriotaphia 


*Cuperem  notum  esse 
quod  sim,  non  opto  ut 
idatur  qualis  sim. — 
Card,  in  vita  propria. 


To  be  content  that  times  to  come  should  onely  know 
there  was  such  a  man,  not  caring  whether  they  knew  more 
of  him,  was  a  frigid  ambition  in  Cardan*  disparaging  his 
horoscopal  inclination  and  judgement  of  himself,  who  cares 
to  subsist  like  Hippocrates'  Patients,  or  &£chUl*S*  horses  in 
Homer,  under  naked  nominations,  without  deserts  and  noble 
acts,  which  are  the  balsame  of  our  memories,  the  Entelechia 
and  soul  of  our  subsistencies.  To  be  namelesse  in  worthy 
deeds  exceeds  an  infamous  history.  The  Canaanitish  woman 
lives  more  happily  without  a  name,  than  Herodias  with  one. 
And  who  had  not  rather  have  been  the  good  thief,  then 
dilate? 

But  the  iniquity  of  oblivion  blindly  scattereth  her  poppy, 
and  deals  with  the  memory  of  men  without  distinction  to 
merit  of  perpetuity.  Who  can  but  pity  the  founder  of  the 
Pyramids  ?  Herostratus  lives  that  burnt  the  Temple  of  T>i- 
ana,  he  is  almost  lost  that  built  it;  time  hath  spared  the 
Epitaph  of  (Adrian's  horse,  confounded  that  of  himselfe. 
In  vain  we  compute  our  felicities  by  the  advantage  of  our 
good  names,  since  bad  have  equal  durations;  and  Ther- 
sites  is  like  to  live  as  long  as  Agamemnon.  Without  the 
favour  of  the  everlasting  Register,  who  knows  whether 
the  best  of  men  be  known  ?  or  whether  there  be  not  more 
remarkable  persons  forgot,  then  any  that  stand  remembred 
in  the  known  account  of  time?  the  first  man  had  been  as 
unknown  as  the  last,  and  (^Methuselah's  long  life  had  been 
his  only  Chronicle. 

Oblivion  is  not  to  be  hired :  the  greater  part  must  be  con- 


Urne-Buriall  49 


tent  to  be  as  though  they  had  not  been,  to  be  found  in  the 
register  of  God,  not  in  the  record  of  man.  Twenty  seven 
names  make  up  the  first  story,  and  the  recorded  names  ever 
since  contain  not  one  living  Century.  The  number  of  the 
dead  long  exceedeth  all  that  shall  live.  The  night  of  time 
far  surpasseth  the  day,  and  who  knows  when  was  the  ^Equi- 
nox ?  Every  houre  addes  unto  that  current  Arithmetique, 
which  scarce  stands  one  moment.  And  since  death  must  be 
the  Lucina  of  life,  and  even  Pagans  could  doubt  whether 
thus  to  live  were  to  die;  since  our  longest  Sun  sets  at  right 
descensions,  and  makes  but  winter  arches,  and  therefore  it 
cannot  be  long  before  we  lie  down  in  darknesse,  and  have 
our  light  in  ashes ;  since  the  brother  of  death  daily  haunts  us 
with  dying  mementos,  and  time  that  grows  old  it  self,  bids 
us  hope  no  long  duration ;  diuturnity  is  a  dream  and  folly 
of  expectation. 

Darknesse  and  light  divide  the  course  of  time,  and  ob- 
livion shares  with  memory  a  great  part  even  of  our  living 
being;  we  slightly  remember  our  felicities, and  the  smartest 
strokes  of  affliction  leave  but  short  smart  upon  us.  Sense 
endureth  no  extremities,  and  sorrows  destroy  us  or  them- 
selves. To  weep  into  stones  are  fables.  Afflictions  induce 
callosities,  miseries  are  slippery,  or  fall  like  snow  upon  us, 
which  notwithstanding  is  no  stupidity.  To  be  ignorant  of 
evils  to  come,  and  forgetful  of  evils  past,  is  merciful  pro- 
vision in  nature,  whereby  we  digest  the  mixture  of  our  few 
and  evil  dayes,  and  our  delivered  senses  not  relapsing  into 
cutting  remembrances,  our  sorrows  are  not  kept  raw  by 


Hydriotaphia 


*  Omnia  vanttas  et 
pastio  venti,  vo/xi) 
ave[j.ov  K<U  )8d<rK?7crts, 
ut  olim  Aquila  et  Sym- 
machus.   V.  Drus. 
Eccles. 


the  edge  of  repetitions.  A  great  part  of  Antiquity  contented 
their  hopes  of  subsistency  with  a  transmigration  of  their 
souls.  A  good  way  to  continue  their  memories,  while  hav- 
ing the  advantage  of  plural  successions,  they  could  not  but 
act  something  remarkable  in  such  variety  of  beings,  and 
enjoying  the  fame  of  their  passed  selves,  make  accumula- 
tion of  glory  unto  their  last  durations.  Others  rather  than 
be  lost  in  the  uncomfortable  night  of  nothing,  were  content 
to  recede  into  the  common  being,  and  make  one  particle 
of  the  publick  soul  of  all  things,  which  was  no  more  then 
to  return  into  their  unknown  and  divine  Original  again. 
^Egyptian  ingenuity  was  more  unsatisfied,  contriving  their 
bodies  in  sweet  consistencies,  to  attend  the  return  of  their 
souls.  But  all  was  vanity,*  feeding  the  winde,  and  folly. 
The  ^Egyptian  Mummies,  which  Cambyses  or  time  hath 
spared,  avarice  now  consumeth.  Mummie  is  become  Mer- 
chandise, (JMizraim  cures  wounds,  and  Pharaoh  is  sold  for 
balsames. 

In  vain  do  individuals  hope  for  immortality,  or  any  patent 
from  oblivion,  in  preservations  below  the  moon :  men  have 
been  deceived  even  in  their  flatteries  above  the  Sun,  and 
studied  conceits  to  perpetuate  their  names  in  heaven.  The 
various  Cosmography  of  that  part  hath  already  varied  the 
names  of  contrived  constellations ;  r^imrod  is  lost  in  Orion, 
and  Osyris  in  the  Dogge-star.  While  we  look  for  incorrup- 
tion  in  the  heavens,  we  finde  they  are  but  like  the  Earth, 
durable  in  their  main  bodies,  alterable  in  their  parts ;  where- 
of beside  Comets  and  new  Stars,  perspectives  begin  to  tell 


Urne-Buriall  51 


tales.  And  the  spots  that  wander  about  the  Sun,  with  'Phae- 
ton's favour,  would  make  clear  conviction. 

There  is  nothing  strictly  immortal,  but  immortality; 
whatever  hath  no  beginning  may  be  confident  of  no  end. 
All  others  have  a  dependent  being,  and  within  the  reach  of 
destruction,  which  is  the  peculiar  of  that  necessary  essence 
that  cannot  destroy  it  self;  and  the  highest  strain  of  omnipo- 
tency  to  be  so  powerfully  constituted,  as  not  to  suffer  even 
from  the  power  of  it  self.  But  the  sufficiency  of  Christian 
immortality  frustrates  all  earthly  glory,  and  the  quality  of 
either  state  after  death  makes  a  folly  of  posthumous  mem- 
ory. God  who  can  onely  destroy  our  souls,  and  hath  assured 
our  resurrection,  either  of  our  bodies  or  names  hath  directly 
promised  no  duration.  Wherein  there  is  so  much  of  chance 
that  the  boldest  expectants  have  found  unhappy  frustra- 
tion; and  to  hold  long  subsistence,  seems  but  a  scape  in 
oblivion.  But  man  is  a  noble  Animal,  splendid  in  ashes,  and 
pompous  in  the  grave,  solemnizing  Nativities  and  Deaths 
with  equal  lustre,  nor  omitting  Ceremonies  of  bravery,  in 
the  infamy  of  his  nature. 

Life  is  a  pure  flame,  and  we  live  by  an  invisible  Sun  within 
us.  A  small  fire  sufficeth  for  life,  great  flames  seemed  too 
little  after  death,  while  men  vainly  affected  precious  pyres, 
and  burn  like  Sardanapalus,  but  the  wisdom  of  funeral  Laws 
found  the  folly  of  prodigal  blazes,  and  reduced  undoing 
fires,  unto  the  rule  of  sober  obsequies,  wherein  few  could  be 
so  mean  as  not  to  provide  wood,  pitch,  a  mourner,  and  an 
Urne. 


52  Hydriotaphia 

Five  Languages  secured  not  the  Epitaph  of  (jordianus ; 
the  man  of  God  lives  longer  without  a  Tomb  then  any  by 
one,  invisibly  interred  by  Angels,  and  adjudged  to  obscur- 
ity, though  not  without  some  marks  directing  humane  dis- 
covery. Enoch  and  Elias  without  either  tomb  or  burial,  in 
an  anomalous  state  of  being,  are  the  great  examples  of  per- 
petuity, in  their  long  and  living  memory;  in  strict  account 
being  still  on  this  side  death,  and  having  a  late  part  yet  to 
act  upon  this  stay  of  earth.  If  in  the  decretory  term  of  the 
world  we  shall  not  all  die  but  be  changed,  according  to 
received  translation,  the  last  day  will  make  but  few  graves ; 
at  least  quick  Resurrections  will  anticipate  lasting  Sepult- 
ures ;  some  graves  will  be  opened  before  they  are  quite 
closed,  and  Lazarus  be  no  wonder.  When  many  that  feared 
to  die  shall  groan  that  they  can  die  but  once,  the  dismal 
state  is  the  second  and  living  death,  when  life  puts  despair 
on  the  damned,  when  men  shall  wish  the  coverings  of 
Mountains,  not  of  Monuments,  and  annihilation  shall  be 
courted. 

While  some  have  studied  Monuments,  others  have  stu- 
diously declined  them :  and  some  have  been  so  vainly  bois- 
terous, that  they  durst  not  acknowledge  their  Graves; 
*jornandes  de  rebus       wherein  Q^flaricus  seems  most  subtle,*  who  had  a  River 
Getuls-  turned  to  hide  his  bones  at  the  bottome.   Even  Sylla  that 

thought  himself  safe  in  his  Urne,  could  not  prevent  reveng- 
ing tongues,  and  stones  thrown  at  his  Monument.  Happy 
are  they  whom  privacy  makes  innocent,  who  deal  so  with 


Urne-Buriall  53 


men  in  this  world,  that  they  are  not  afraid  to  meet  them  in 
the  next,  who,  when  they  die,  make  no  commotion  among 
the  dead,  and  are  not  toucht  with  that  poetical  taunt  of 

Isaiah.  *  *Isa.  xiv,  1 6,  etc. 

Pyramids,  Arches,  Obelisks,  were  but  the  irregularities 
of  vainglory,  and  wilde  enormities  of  ancient  magnanimity. 
But  the  most  magnanimous  resolution  rests  in  the  Christian 
Religion,  which  trampleth  upon  pride,  and  sits  on  the  neck 
of  ambition,  humbly  pursuing  that  infallible  perpetuity, 
unto  which  all  others  must  diminish  their  diameters  and  be 
poorly  seen  in  Angles  of  contingency. -f-  ^Anguiuscontinge 

Pious  spirits  who  passe  their  dayes  in  raptures  of  futurity,  '  ' least  °fAn&les- 
made  little  more  of  this  world,  then  the  world  that  was  be- 
fore it,  while  they  lay  obscure  in  the  Chaos  of  preordination, 
and  night  of  their  fore-beings.  And  if  any  have  been  so 
happy  as  truely  to  understand  Christian  annihilation,  extasis, 
exolution,  liquefaction,  transformation,  the  kisse  of  the 
Spouse,  gustation  of  God,  and  ingression  into  the  divine 
shadow,  they  have  already  had  an  handsome  anticipation  of 
heaven ;  the  glory  of  the  world  is  surely  over,  and  the  earth 
in  ashes  unto  them. 

To  subsist  in  lasting  Monuments,  to  live  in  their  pro- 
ductions, to  exist  in  their  names,  and  pragdicament  of 
Chymaeras,  was  large  satisfaction  unto  old  expectations 
and  made  one  part  of  their  Elysiums.  But  all  this  is  nothing 
in  the  Metaphysicks  of  true  belief.  To  live  indeed  is  to 
be  again  our  selves,  which  being  not  onely  an  hope  but 


54 


Hydriotaphia 


an  evidence  in  noble  believers,  't  is  all  one  to  lie  in  St. 
*  in  Pa™  where  bodies    Innocents*  Church-yard,  as  in  the  Sands  of  Mgypt:  ready 
to  be  any  thing,  in  the  extasie  of  being  ever,  and  as  content 
with  six  foot  as  the  Moles  of  os4drianus.~\- 


soon  consume. 


•f  A  stately  Mausoleum 
or  sepulchral  pyle  built 
by  Adrianus  in  Rome, 
where  now  standeth  the 
Castle  of  St.  Angela. 


—  Tabesne  cadavera  solvat 
n  rogus  haud  refert.  — 

LUCAN 


Three  hundred  and  eighty-jive  copies  printed  at  the  Riverside 
Press  for  Houghton,  Mifflin  fc?  Company,  Boston  and  New  York. 


R 


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m 


>^XVVW>^XXXXXVX>VVVVVVNXVXXXNVVH%^NN\X\VkNXVCS^^ 


_ 

,  ••  •  , 


